BETHANY — Bethany picked up it first win of the season and the first win of new head coach Josh Holliday’s career in a 72-37 rout of 3A Star Spencer Friday (Dec. 5).

The Bronchos (1-1) led the entire game and quickly built a sizeable lead by taking advantage of Bobcat turnovers and sprinting for easy buckets.

Holliday likes the defense-to-offense approach.

“We talk about controllables all the time. Defense is one of those things you can always sort of have more control over,” Holliday said. “Offense – sometimes you do everything right and the ball doesn’t fall, but you can always guard. We really try to stress that and the guys really try to buy into that.”

Senior Denton Jaggers helped Bethany build a double-digit lead with 14 first-half points. Sophomore Breck Brady added 12 points.

Star Spencer sophomore Quashon Mitchell scored 31 of the Bobcats’ 37 points in the loss. Mitchell hit four 3-pointers.

“He’s a heck of a player,” Holliday said of Mitchell. “Sometimes in basketball, it’s about being team-oriented. 
Sometimes guys are gonna get theirs. You just do the best you can on them and just make it as tough as you can on them.

“You just want to be the one that has more points on the end of the game.”

Besides Mitchell, the Broncho defense locked down the Bobcats. Star Spencer scored in single digits in the last three quarters (nine points each quarter).

Holliday had a hard naming just one player to highlight.

“It’s a group effort with this group.”

The first-year head coach praised Jaggers, Brady, Chatman, Dempsey and sophomore Rhett Brobston for their play.

With the outcome no longer in doubt, several players played and scored off the bench. In all, 11 Bethany players scored in the win.

Holliday said the playing time would be “confidence boosters for the reserve players.

“They work just as hard as the guys who play the bulk of the minutes. So, they deserve those minutes. They deserve to seize those minutes and really just take hold of those and play as hard as they can.”

The win gave Holliday his first win as a head coach.

“It feels great!” Holliday said of his first win. “One of my mentors always told me the wins are for the guys and the losses are mine. This group deserves all the credit that comes our way.”

UP NEXT

The Bronchos travel to Kingfisher (2-0) for their Western Athletic Conference opener Tuesday (Dec. 9) at 7:30 p.m.

The Yellowjackets won at 3A Chisholm, 80-62, Friday.

“They are different looking team this year. and (Kingfisher coach Colby Connel) has got them rolling,” Holliday said of the Yellowjackets “They’re going to be ready to go, especially at their crib.”

Bethany won the lone meeting between the teams last season, 53-44.

 (PHOTO: Kristie Escoe/Life in Action Photography)

	1	2	3	4	F
Star Spencer (0-4)	11	8	9	9	37
Bethany (1-1)	22	16	18	16	72