By NICK SLOAN, NJSloan212@gmail.com
Coming up one point shy of a 40-point game is about the only area Basehor-Linwood junior guard Chase Younger came up short in during Tuesday's 65-48 win against rival Bonner Springs.
Younger torched the nets (and the Braves) for 39 points, as the Bobcats improved to 2-1 on the season and demonstrated why they shouldn't be written off for the 2012-13 season.
Younger's offense explosion began early in the game. After Bonner Springs jumped out to a quick lead, Younger scored Basehor's first 12 points in the game to give the Bobcats a lead they would not relinquish.
"He just willed us to the win tonight," said Mike McBride, head coach of the Basehor-Linwood Bobcats. "He's a tough player to stop. He's just a complete player - he has a great pull-up shot."
Younger did damage from all over the court Tuesday.
Whether it was knocking down the open mid-ranger jumper off screens from his teammates, hitting three-point shots (he had four in the game) or driving inside to earn tough points off of contact, Younger dominated from all points of the floor.
He had the final five points of an 11-0 run that helped Basehor-Linwood take a 32-17 advantage into the halftime break.
However, Bonner Springs did not quit.
Behind pressure defense and sloppy Basehor offense, Bonner Springs cut the lead down to five points at 46-41. Austen Twombly and Tyler Howell did most of the damage in the third quarter on offense. Bonner Springs' defense caused six turnovers in the third quarter.
Unfortunately for the Braves, Younger responded once again for Basehor, as the Bobcats regrouped as a team in the fourth quarter to put the game away.
After scoring 18 points in the first half - enough to outscore the entire Bonner Springs team - Younger followed up with 21 points in the second half. His second three-pointer in the fourth quarter was the dagger in the heart, extending Basehor's lead back to 11 points - and finally putting the rebuilding Braves away.
Along with Younger's effort, Basehor's quickness was on display in the game, according to McBride.
"We didn't know where we were at as a team after the Shawnee Mission South loss," McBride said. "We have a lot of team speed. I've never had a team this fast, so I'm learning right with them. They love playing this way."
J.P. Downing, Zach McNabb and freshman Jahron McPherson also played solid games, contributing to the effort and helping Basehor fill a bit of a void left following the injury to Ben Johnson.
With the win, Basehor improves to 2-1 on the season, while Bonner Springs drops to 2-2.
