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Photos by Nicole Flowers
November 12, 2023
Bulldog basketball set to open regular season Tuesday at Floresville
Sports Staff
The Bandera Prophet
The Bandera varsity basketball team unofficially opened last week with exhibition scrimmages against Uvalde, Comfort and Llano, paving the way toward the start of the regular season in the coming days.
The Bulldogs tied Uvalde 53-53 in a four-quarter scrimmage before outscoring Comfort 35-18 in a two-quarter scrimmage. Llano was able to edge the Bulldogs in a 50-45 finish Wednesday night.
“I thought we did a good job of shaking some rust off and getting quality reps in our offensive and defensive schemes,” Head boys basketball Coach Brady Keane said. “Our biggest focus since watching the film of those scrimmages has been our shot selection and defensive intensity. We rushed a few things and that got us out of rhythm at times.”
Bandera fell behind early against Uvalde before storming back to take an 11-point halftime lead into the break. The Coyotes fought back quickly, though, and regained control entering the fourth quarter.
The Bulldogs got a timely 3-point shot from freshman Cooper Franklin and clutch mid-range shot from junior Elijah Salas late in the fourth, then forced a missed shot as time expired to keep the scrimmage locked at 53-53.
“We did a great job of executing offensively down the stretch after a slow third quarter,” Keane said. “I was proud of the way some of our young guys stepped in and made plays. They’re taking advantage of their opportunities right now.”
Salas finished the Uvalde scrimmage with a team-high 19 points, eight rebounds, eight steals and seven assists. Junior Beau Bergfeld had nine points and three rebounds, senior Cale Barnett had seven points, five rebounds and two steals, senior Isaac Segura had five points and eight rebounds, and Franklin had five points and five rebounds.
In the team’s second scrimmage against Comfort, the Bulldogs connected on a handful of 3-point shots that helped build a comfortable lead. After a close first quarter, Bandera pulled away as junior Layne Bourgeois and Eli Salas took control from behind the arc.
Other contributors in the Comfort exhibition included senior Hank Pate, sophomore James Bower, sophomore Logan Pierce, and junior Gattlin Winkler.
Bandera then competed against Llano Wednesday night and struggled to get into a rhythm offensive as the Yellow Jackets hung on to outscore the Bulldogs 50-45. Salas had 17 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three steals while Bourgeois had nine points, six rebounds and two assists.
“We got a lot of good out of spending time together reviewing the film from that matchup,” Keane said. “I’m excited to see how we respond.”
The Bulldogs return just one full-time starter from last year’s area championship qualifying squad as Salas is back after earning first team all-district honors last year. However, Barnett and Segura also have experience in the starting lineup as returning varsity players, as does senior Bryson Holden who is set to return from injury this week.
Bandera will open the regular season on the road against Floresville Tuesday night, and then will travel to take on San Antonio Fox Tech on Saturday, Nov. 18. The Bulldogs will then play San Antonio Kennedy at the Frost Bank Center on Monday, Nov. 20.
The team’s first home game is set for Tuesday, Nov. 21, vs. San Antonio Randolph.
The Bulldogs have advanced to the playoffs in each of the last two seasons and will again compete among top-tier talent in Boerne, Wimberley, Davenport, Fredericksburg, Navarro and Canyon Lake. Last year, Bandera finished as the No. 3 seed and advanced to the playoffs before defeating Cuero in the first round. The Bulldogs were ultimately eliminated by El Campo in the area championship.
This year’s district schedule will open on the road against Wimberley on Tuesday Dec. 19.
“We have a really, really tough non-district schedule this year and I’m excited about the way that will prep us for the gauntlet we’ll see in district,” Keane said. “We’ll be battle tested and ready to compete for another playoff spot.”
The Bulldogs tied Uvalde 53-53 in a four-quarter scrimmage before outscoring Comfort 35-18 in a two-quarter scrimmage. Llano was able to edge the Bulldogs in a 50-45 finish Wednesday night.
“I thought we did a good job of shaking some rust off and getting quality reps in our offensive and defensive schemes,” Head boys basketball Coach Brady Keane said. “Our biggest focus since watching the film of those scrimmages has been our shot selection and defensive intensity. We rushed a few things and that got us out of rhythm at times.”
Bandera fell behind early against Uvalde before storming back to take an 11-point halftime lead into the break. The Coyotes fought back quickly, though, and regained control entering the fourth quarter.
The Bulldogs got a timely 3-point shot from freshman Cooper Franklin and clutch mid-range shot from junior Elijah Salas late in the fourth, then forced a missed shot as time expired to keep the scrimmage locked at 53-53.
“We did a great job of executing offensively down the stretch after a slow third quarter,” Keane said. “I was proud of the way some of our young guys stepped in and made plays. They’re taking advantage of their opportunities right now.”
Salas finished the Uvalde scrimmage with a team-high 19 points, eight rebounds, eight steals and seven assists. Junior Beau Bergfeld had nine points and three rebounds, senior Cale Barnett had seven points, five rebounds and two steals, senior Isaac Segura had five points and eight rebounds, and Franklin had five points and five rebounds.
In the team’s second scrimmage against Comfort, the Bulldogs connected on a handful of 3-point shots that helped build a comfortable lead. After a close first quarter, Bandera pulled away as junior Layne Bourgeois and Eli Salas took control from behind the arc.
Other contributors in the Comfort exhibition included senior Hank Pate, sophomore James Bower, sophomore Logan Pierce, and junior Gattlin Winkler.
Bandera then competed against Llano Wednesday night and struggled to get into a rhythm offensive as the Yellow Jackets hung on to outscore the Bulldogs 50-45. Salas had 17 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three steals while Bourgeois had nine points, six rebounds and two assists.
“We got a lot of good out of spending time together reviewing the film from that matchup,” Keane said. “I’m excited to see how we respond.”
The Bulldogs return just one full-time starter from last year’s area championship qualifying squad as Salas is back after earning first team all-district honors last year. However, Barnett and Segura also have experience in the starting lineup as returning varsity players, as does senior Bryson Holden who is set to return from injury this week.
Bandera will open the regular season on the road against Floresville Tuesday night, and then will travel to take on San Antonio Fox Tech on Saturday, Nov. 18. The Bulldogs will then play San Antonio Kennedy at the Frost Bank Center on Monday, Nov. 20.
The team’s first home game is set for Tuesday, Nov. 21, vs. San Antonio Randolph.
The Bulldogs have advanced to the playoffs in each of the last two seasons and will again compete among top-tier talent in Boerne, Wimberley, Davenport, Fredericksburg, Navarro and Canyon Lake. Last year, Bandera finished as the No. 3 seed and advanced to the playoffs before defeating Cuero in the first round. The Bulldogs were ultimately eliminated by El Campo in the area championship.
This year’s district schedule will open on the road against Wimberley on Tuesday Dec. 19.
“We have a really, really tough non-district schedule this year and I’m excited about the way that will prep us for the gauntlet we’ll see in district,” Keane said. “We’ll be battle tested and ready to compete for another playoff spot.”