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Photo by Nicole Flowers
December 2, 2024
Heroic shot moves Bandera boys to 5-0
Bandera Prophet Staff
After trailing for a good portion of the second half, the Bandera basketball team needed some late game heroics Wednesday morning at the Frost Bank Center to protect its perfect record early in the season.
San Antonio Kennedy held a 47-46 lead with 20 seconds left when Bandera inbounded the ball to senior point guard Elijah Salas. After recovering from a trap, Salas stepped up and knocked down a clutch 3-point shot and got fouled, converting a crucial 4-point play that helped push the Bulldogs to a 50-47 win in the Spurs’ arena.
“That was a huge moment for Eli and our entire team,” Head Coach Brady Keane said. “He’s obviously put in a lot of work as a four-year varsity player, and with the game on the line we wanted the ball in his hands. Our team never panicked despite trailing in the fourth quarter for the first time this season, and that says a lot about the maturity and leadership those guys bring to the table.”
Salas finished with 20 points, six rebounds and six assists, earning a San Antonio Express-News game ball for the second time this season. The Bulldogs needed all 20 points after a sluggish start and a few costly defensive breakdowns allowed Kennedy to control a majority of the second half.
While Salas’ shot was the difference late, junior Jeffry Thomas had six key points in the fourth quarter as well to put the Bulldogs in position to get a shot off for the win. Senior Beau Bergfeld added eight points and seven rebounds, sophomore Cooper Franklin had seven points, seven rebounds and two blocks, junior James Bower had five points and four rebounds, and senior Hayden Winters finished with three points in the win.
“Jeffry provided a huge spark for us in the fourth quarter,” Keane said. “He brings a lot of energy to the table on both ends of the court and his ability to make plays like that when we need them is so important. Really, our entire team found a way to make an impact at some point and help us find a way to win a game when we weren’t playing how we are capable of playing.”
Bandera, now 5-0 on the young season, is coming off a four day Thanksgiving Break heading into what will be a challenging three weeks of competition leading up to the Christmas Break. The Bulldogs will host Uvalde on Tuesday before traveling to Lytle, where they will compete among seven state ranked teams and four others with a winning basketball tradition.
The Lytle Tournament is shaping up to be one of the top tournaments in the state this weekend, and will provide a strong test for Bandera as the team continues to prepare for district play.
“This next stretch of games is going to tell us a lot about where we’re at as a team,” Keane said. “We wanted to challenge our guys before district, and this is the type of competition we need to see to get ready for those games that really matter. I know we are all excited for the challenge and are ready to embrace it and get better together each game.”
San Antonio Kennedy held a 47-46 lead with 20 seconds left when Bandera inbounded the ball to senior point guard Elijah Salas. After recovering from a trap, Salas stepped up and knocked down a clutch 3-point shot and got fouled, converting a crucial 4-point play that helped push the Bulldogs to a 50-47 win in the Spurs’ arena.
“That was a huge moment for Eli and our entire team,” Head Coach Brady Keane said. “He’s obviously put in a lot of work as a four-year varsity player, and with the game on the line we wanted the ball in his hands. Our team never panicked despite trailing in the fourth quarter for the first time this season, and that says a lot about the maturity and leadership those guys bring to the table.”
Salas finished with 20 points, six rebounds and six assists, earning a San Antonio Express-News game ball for the second time this season. The Bulldogs needed all 20 points after a sluggish start and a few costly defensive breakdowns allowed Kennedy to control a majority of the second half.
While Salas’ shot was the difference late, junior Jeffry Thomas had six key points in the fourth quarter as well to put the Bulldogs in position to get a shot off for the win. Senior Beau Bergfeld added eight points and seven rebounds, sophomore Cooper Franklin had seven points, seven rebounds and two blocks, junior James Bower had five points and four rebounds, and senior Hayden Winters finished with three points in the win.
“Jeffry provided a huge spark for us in the fourth quarter,” Keane said. “He brings a lot of energy to the table on both ends of the court and his ability to make plays like that when we need them is so important. Really, our entire team found a way to make an impact at some point and help us find a way to win a game when we weren’t playing how we are capable of playing.”
Bandera, now 5-0 on the young season, is coming off a four day Thanksgiving Break heading into what will be a challenging three weeks of competition leading up to the Christmas Break. The Bulldogs will host Uvalde on Tuesday before traveling to Lytle, where they will compete among seven state ranked teams and four others with a winning basketball tradition.
The Lytle Tournament is shaping up to be one of the top tournaments in the state this weekend, and will provide a strong test for Bandera as the team continues to prepare for district play.
“This next stretch of games is going to tell us a lot about where we’re at as a team,” Keane said. “We wanted to challenge our guys before district, and this is the type of competition we need to see to get ready for those games that really matter. I know we are all excited for the challenge and are ready to embrace it and get better together each game.”