The Class B No. 10 Blair boys basketball team pushed No. 1 Crete on Thursday, but the Cardinals pulled away late for a 49-34 road win to cap the regular season.
The loss dropped coach Chris Whitwer's Bears to 8-13 overall, while the top-ranked team in Class B moved to 22-0. BHS next competes Wednesday during the Class B-5 Subdistrict Tournament in Bennington.
Against the Cardinals, though, the Bears built a 15-13 first period lead with Easton Bosanek and Ben Holcomb combining for three 3-point makes. Bosanek scored eight points during the quarter and finished with a team-high 10 total.
Crete bounced back from the rough start, however, claiming a 20-18 halftime lead with a 10-3 second quarter. It pushed the lead out to 10 from there, but BHS battled its way back within 30-28 with an 8-0 run during the third period.
Unfortunately for Whitwer's team, the Cardinals built their own scoring streak in response and outscored the Bears 14-6 in the fourth quarter for a 15-point win.
While Trace Egge led the victors with 17 points, Blair's Bo Meier scored seven to compliment Bosanek's total. Crayton Macholan scored five points, too.
Thursday
No. 1 CRETE 49, No. 10 BLAIR 34
CHS (22-0) 13 10 12 14 — 49
BHS (8-13) 15 3 10 6 — 34
Scoring: BHS — Easton Bosanek 10, Bo Meier 7, Crayton Macholan 5, Aidan Slominski 4, Cooper Sorensen 3, Ben Holcomb 3, Hayden Daggett 2.
CHS — Trace Egge 17, Justus Gardiner 15, Kenner Svitak 10, Aidan McDowell 6, Reece Vertin 1.
