In a slow, intense, defensive battle, the BSM boys’ varsity basketball team was defeated by the De La Salle Islanders 44-29 on February 7. Though the score at half-time was only 21-16 in favor of the Islanders, BSM was ultimately overwhelmed by De La Salle’s man-to-man defensive scheme. 

Leading the scoring for the Red Knights was junior Darren Glover, who had 13 points. Senior Alex Miller chipped in 6, and sophomore Myles Barnes had 4. However, the scoring of De La Salle, in particular the combined 30 points of senior AJ Barker and junior Jalen Jaspers , overmatched the Red Knights’ meager offensive output, their lowest of the season thus far.

According to Head Coach John Moore, there was “nothing wrong” with his team’s play in the game. “De La Salle played intense man-to-man defense,” said Coach Moore. “They imposed their will in slowing the game down and turning it into a grind-it-out type of game.”

BSM also was without two of their key contributors: juniors Peter Crawford and Nick Meyer, both of whom suffered injuries last week in the game against Chisago Lakes. Crawford is sidelined for two weeks with a stress fracture in his foot, while Meyer was ailing from a sprained ankle, but has since returned to practicing. 

“The rivalry goes way back” said Moore of BSM and De La Salle. “We’ve played over 100 games against [De La Salle].” BSM had claimed victory in the past three meetings of the two schools.  

The Red Knights look to rebound in their two games this week–––on February 10 the St. Francis Fighting Saints visit the Haben Center and on February 13 the Red Knights travel to Fridley to square off against the Totino-Grace Eagles. Section playoffs begin in one month, and, as BSM and De La Salle are both a part of Section 6AAA, a rematch could easily present itself. 

“[The team] should take what we have learned from De La Salle’s intense defense and apply it to our opponents,” said Coach Moore. “Hopefully we can build from that to where we can have success in our section.”