By Rob Burns
For The Daily World
An early-season test for Aberdeen proved to be too hard to pass on Friday night at Sam Benn Gym.
Hosting Capital, a state 3A qualifier last season and a strong favorite to win the South Sound Conference 3A this season, the Bobcats were close for the first quarter. After that, the Cougars used their size and speed to run away, 73-39, in a non-league boys basketball game.
“Capital, give them credit, they are a very good defensive team,” AHS head coach Mark Buckman said. “We just weren’t executing our offense very well. We weren’t cutting as hard, doing the things we need to do to be successful against a team like that.”
Capital’s Dawson Landers led all scorers with 15 points and was one of five Cougars to score in double digits on the night. Aberdeen’s Ben Dublanko led the hosts with 10 points.
The visitors led throughout the contest, relying upon their defense to make the hosts work a bit harder for clean shots. However, the Bobcats (1-1 overall) scrapped and clawed back into the contest late in the first quarter.
Down 14-6 with 2 minutes left, Aberdeen got back-to-back 3-pointers from Austin Timmons and Dublanko to cut the deficit to 14-12 with 1:10 left in the quarter.
The Bobcats got to within one, 15-14, after two free throws from Dublanko, but the Cougars took a 17-14 lead at the end of the quarter. Cody Sayers fought through the traffic inside for the second quarter’s first basket, 17-16, to give Aberdeen a chance.
After that, Aberdeen’s offense was swallowed up by Capital’s defense and interior offense. Two 6-foot-6 posts — Brandin Reidel and Grant Erickson — dominated the paint with blocked shots and redirected drives for Capital.
With Landers driving the offense, the Cougars went on a 14-0 run that was answered by Alonzo Coburn’s driving basket with 42 seconds remaining in the first half. Capital ran into the locker room with a 31-18 halftime score and Aberdeen never got closer.
A 24-7 third quarter for Capital sealed the contest. Aberdeen’s offense hit just five baskets on 25 attempts in the second and third quarters combined.
The fourth quarter saw the reserves from both teams play in stretches as Aberdeen’s offense found some more room at the free-throw line and at the perimeter. Javier Bojorge score five of his eight points in the fourth quarter.
On Wednesday, Aberdeen returns to action at home against River Ridge
.
Capital 17 14 24 18 — 73
Aberdeen 14 4 7 14 — 39
Capital (73) — G. Landers 2, Layton 3, Penney 14, D. Landers 15, Stock 11, Walker 7, Yescas, Brandsma, Newman, Reidel 11, Erickson 12. FG — 32-55 (.582). FT — 2-4.
Aberdeen (39) — Manwell 3, Barragan 5, Sidor, Bojorge 8, Dublanko 10, Coburn 4, Sayers 6, Pisani, Shale, Timmons 3. FG — 13-48 (.271). FT — 7-10.
Aberdeen’s Ben Dublanko drives past Capital’s Brett Stock on his way to the basket Friday night. Dublanko led the Bobcats with 10 points. (Brendan Carl Photography)
