Bulldogs bounce back, Go 2-0 on the week

Zach Urness - Leader Staff

After taking a few steps in the wrong direction, the Mission Bulldogs righted the ship last week, winning two important games and getting back to that all important .500 mark. The ‘Dogs, now 4-4 in the conference and 8-8 overall, traveled to Superior and took down the Bobcats on Thursday and then defeated Troy at home on Friday.

The deadly combination of Casey Cable and Cory Geis got the ‘Dogs off on the right paw against Troy on Friday as both drained 3-point shots to open up the scoring. Geis continued to play well in the first quarter, putting home a lay-up inside and then going hard to the rim and getting fouled to move the lead to 10-4.

Troy fought back though, and after Mission missed a few easy opportunities, the Trojans grabbed a 12-11 lead after the first. Geis continued to keep Mission afloat in the second, grabbing a rebound and scoring and hitting another jump-shot to bring the score to 18-16 with Troy still ahead. With roughly two minutes left in the second quarter Mission finally seemed to wake up, getting scores from Cable and Arnold Torosian inside, and after a sloppy half only found themselves behind 22-21.

Aaron Trudeau came out tough in the second half, scoring twice with jump-shots to give Mission back the lead 26-23. Geis then got a steal and scored on a lay-up to cap a 6-0 run that would give the ‘Dogs the momentum and the lead going into the fourth quarter 30-27.

Cory Geis used the momentum to his advantage to start the fourth, scoring right out of the gate and then grabbing a loose ball and dishing to Trudeau for a score to put Mission up 32-27. With 1:50 left in the game the Geis-to-Trudeau connection scored again, and after another Geis jump-shot, Mission took a 38-31 lead that they would not relinquish. They won by a final score of 42-33.

Geis led the team in scoring with 17 points, including seven in the first quarter and six in the fourth quarter, along with two assists. Aaron Trudeau also hit double figures with 12 points, eight of which came during the second half comeback. Casey Cable and Arnold Torosian had five points each. Bo Coffman added two and Tyrell Frame had one.

Mission traveled to Superior (7-8) on Thursday and tamed the Bobcats, beating them in convincing fashion, 62-44. Mission jumped out to an early lead, outscoring Superior 16-13 in the first quarter. The Bobcats came charging back in the second quarter, going on a 12-8 run to take a one point lead at half-time, 25-24. But the Bulldogs jumped all over the ‘Cats in the in the second half, outscoring Superior 38-19 led by Cory Geis, who had nine of his game-high 18 points in the second half.

Casey Cable and Aaron Trudeau also scored in double figures as Cable finished with 12 and Trudeau had 11. Dallas Cordier also had seven points, Arnold Torosian had five, Bo Coffman had four, Tyrell Frame had three and Nakota McDonald had two points.