Burning River Buckets Defeat Ohio Bruins 120-114 Behind Team Record 51 from Gabe Kynard

Photo via Burning River Buckets

Mentor Ohio- In a rivalry game, when teams know each other so we’ll, it’s very hard to have a career night. But no one told Gabe Kynard as he had his career high and new team record 51 points on an array of drives to the basket, and deep threes. I don’t want to take credit, but I talked to Kynard before the game about his shooting and how he wanted to improve it. I never thought he’d improve it tonight though.

First half

In the first half, it was the Cole Krizacic show as he put on a shooting display with five first half threes which seemed to all come in succession. The Bruins playing shorthanded, could not keep a body on him and Cole took full advantage finding the open spot. All of his season high 20 points came in the first half as he hit shot after shot. The Buckets raced out to leads of as much as 20, but the Bruins fought hard. Led by Jay Farrow and Cam Mitchell, the Bruins hung around just enough to keep the game in reach and we’re scratching and clawing going into halftime only down 67-55.

Second half

The second half was the Gabe Kynard show. The Bruins made runs, but Kynard had answers. Bucket after bucket, three after three, Kynard was not going to be denied this win.

Talking to him after the game, Kynard was ready to give praise to his teammates saying they found him in the right spots, and because of Cole’s shooting, and Joe Klauer’s season high 15 points, the lane was open for Gabe to drive. And once the defense tried to protect the drive, Kynard made them pay from the outside.

The Bruins gave an effort though. It did not go unnoticed that they were playing shorthanded. Farrow and Mitchell did everything they could to keep the game close. The Bruins got the score down to nine points and Mitchell and Kynard started trading baskets. But by the start of the fourth quarter, the Bruins ran out of gas. Despite Mitchell’s 40, and Farrows 30, the Bruins ultimately fell to the Buckets 120-114.