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Sports

JBS Win Streak At Five

Grant Wallace scores 28 points as the Bombers defeat Principia 56-41 in their ABC Conference opener Tuesday night.

John Burroughs' boys basketball coach Steve Wilcutt had the flu when his team took on Bayless in the first round of the Chaminade Christmas Tournament on Dec. 27.

His team's performance in that game would not have been a cure as the Bombers were embarrassed, losing to the Bronchos 81-48.

"I told the guys after that game that they could feel sorry for themselves or go to work," Wilcutt said.

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Burroughs decided on the latter and the result is a five-game winning streak after a 56-41 victory over Principia Tuesday night in the ABC Conference opener for the Bombers.

"We had to re-evaluate things after that 33 point loss," said Bomber senior Grant Wallace. "We don't want to use football as an excuse (Wallace was a member of the Burroughs' football team which advanced to the Class 3 championship game) but those first couple of weeks of basketball were really hard. We played more games than we had practices.

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"We came back after the loss to Bayless to win two games in the tournament which was huge for our confidence. I feel we are playing now the way we are capable of playing."

Burroughs had a rare day off school Tuesday because of the snow and the Bombers got off to a slow start, making just nine of 28 field goal attempts in the first half.

"We have only had two or three snow days since I have been here and it is different when you are at home all day sitting around," Wallace said. "We were not quite as sharp at the start of the game."

Wallace kept the Bombers in the game with 11 first half points and then exploded for 17 in the second half, many coming with the outcome in doubt.

"Grant is a four-year varsity starter and he can really get to the rim and finish," Wilcutt said. "He did a good job tonight."

Nonetheless, the Panthers trailed by just two points early in the fourth quarter. They had a chance to tie the game but missed a lay-up.  Wallace followed with two field goals and an assist to freshman Trevor Bain. Amos Shinkle had a 3-point field goal and the Bombers had a double digit lead for the first time.

"We took a huge step in the right direction from our game Saturday night (a 63-28 loss to MICDS)," Principia Coach Steve Bania said. "We did a good job of playing team defense and we did a better job of taking care of the ball. I thought our guys did a good job of defending Wallace but he still made us pay. He can take over a game and he did that tonight."

Wallace finished with 28 points but the Bombers had two other players in double figures. Foyesade Oluokun had 13 points and Shinkle added 12 as Burroughs improved to 6-5.

"I think we are getting better but this was not our best game," Wilcutt said. "But when you don't shoot it well like we did in the first half, you don't look good. We played better in the second half and the fourth quarter was good."

Steve Hammond had 11 and Justin Ball 10 for the Panthers, who fell to 4-5 overall and 0-2 in the ABC Conference.

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