The Buccaneers (14-1) – winners of five in a row – built a 19-0 edge before the Bengals found the basket for the first time with 1:06 left in the opening period. It remained Blinn’s night from there as the hosts took a 21-3 lead into the second quarter and built a 48-16 halftime cushion.
“I think offensively we haven’t been shooting the ball well, but I still think we have good offensive players,” Buccaneers head coach Jeff Jenkins said. “Because of that, we spend most of our video sessions and practices focusing on the defensive side of our game, and even though we’re not perfect every possession, I think we’ve been showing some real growth as of late.”
That was the case Wednesday as the Bucs were just 66 seconds from posting a defensive shutout in a period for the second straight game. On Monday, Blinn held North American University to zero points in the second frame during an 82-48 win.
“We had a slow start to the season defensively, but that was something we focused on during practice before today’s game,” said Blinn sophomore guard Jakoriah Long. “We worked on our transition defense, our communication, our movement when we’re defending, and we really put emphasis on the entire five on the court working together when we’re on defense and I think that paid off tonight.”
Blinn led 63-23 heading into the fourth quarter.
Long and fellow sophomore guard Hannah Humphrey led the way offensively with 16 points apiece, while sophomore forward Tiffany Tullis and sophomore guard Allana Thompson finished with 14 and 12 points, respectively.
Nine players saw minutes for Blinn and all nine scored at least five points.
(Pictured: Blinn College sophomore guard Hannah Humphrey shoots over the LSU-Eunice defense during a game Jan. 11)
“When everyone plays and scores, it contributes to our entire energy as a whole,” said Humphrey. “When everybody gets that chance to show what they can do and play a part on the team, it makes the games that much better.”
The Buccaneers hit the road for a Region XIV tilt at Jacksonville College at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 14, in Jacksonville, Texas.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 42 NJCAA national championships since 1987.
