Bucs not blue after game with Blue Thunder

Bob Kopp

BDR Sports Correspondent

BELVIDERE – Inaugural North Head Basketball Coach Darrin Sisk, whose coaching prowess directed the fledgling program to some of the most startling upsets in NIC-10 history before he resigned, remarked after Belvidere overwhelmed the Blue Thunder 53-31 to open conference action, “Coach Pearson has always been a gentleman in keeping games close when they could be blowouts.”

With sophomores Sebastian Gutierrez, Evan Waddell (six), and Corbin Gustafson (five) notching considerable minutes and contributing over 30 percent of the scoring for North while senior sharpshooter Rylen Kirk was held to six points on two threes, the Bucs defense smothered the paint and forced the hosts to score 50 percent of its points from beyond the arc in a game not remotely as close as the final tally.

Pearson emptied the bench early and often as all twelve Bucs played significant minutes.

With one of the NIC-10’s most consistent, competent, and decisive officiating crews in the house, decorum was never threatened.

Senior Deante Barnes, last year’s only junior to make NIC-10 first-team all-conference, led the way with 14 points while joining junior Xavier Dent (12) to dominate the boards.  Seniors Eric Munoz (four) and Matt Kopp played their usual tenacious defense and unselfish offense.  Juniors Austin Revolinski (nine), Will Morris (seven), Joey Hernandez (six), and Nate Horton (one) rounded out the scoring.