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GAME #25

Bland’s Near Record Performance Can’t Save Cru

Hot Reaper Start Keeps Marquette Winless At Plano

By Bill Lidinsky

  To say Marquette senior Tanner Bland excels playing basketball during the annual Plano Christmas Classic probably would be a bit of an understatement.

  As a junior in 2006 at Reaper Gym, Bland threw up 22 points in one quarter including five three balls (27 points overall) during a win over Newark .

  On Saturday at Plano the Cru sharpshooter made last year’s performance look somewhat pale in comparison. Against the host Reapers, Bland combined an amazing 10 triples, one two-point field goal, and 5-of-8 shooting from the free throw line for a whopping 37 points.

  The huge game by the senior marked the eighth best scoring effort ever in the rich 45-year history of the Classic with 40 points being the benchmark shared by past players PJ Fleck of Kaneland and Bret Shumway of Sandwich.

  Unfortunately for Marquette , Bland’s near record couldn’t overcome Plano ’s equally hot first half shooting as the Reapers held off a furious fourth quarter Crusader rally to grab a 69-63 victory. The loss kept Marquette winless at 0-4 during the four day tournament.

  “Tanner’s game today was pretty impressive. But I know he’d gladly exchange all 37 points for seven more points on the scoreboard that would have gotten us a win today,” said Marquette head basketball coach Kevin Schultz. “We didn’t accomplish what we wanted to up here at Plano , but I’m proud of our kids for fighting and never giving up especially after the Reapers got off to such a hot start.”

  Plano was on fire from the opening tip knocking down 10-of-12 field goals in the first quarter to grab a 24-10 lead after the first eight minutes of play.

  “We haven’t had a quarter like that all year let alone a half like that. It was good to get off to such a nice start,” said Plano head basketball coach Eric Bryant.

  The Reapers shot 60 percent from the field over the first two periods with Brian Green and Ryan Campisi each knocking down three triples. Bland also had a trio of treys for the Cru, but Plano owned a substantial 40-26 lead at the intermission.

  “Our kids could have easily thrown in the towel and we challenged them at halftime not to do so and step up with some defense,” Schultz said. “You can’t give up 40 points in a half and expect to win. But the defensive effort in the second half was fabulous and I thought that’s what spurred our comeback.”

  But the comeback didn’t start until early in the fourth quarter. With Marquette seemingly dead in the water trailing 55-38 at the 7:15 mark, the Cru mounted their assault with Bland bombing the Reapers relentlessly.

  During the final four minutes of the game, Bland nailed five triples including one with thirty seconds to go that brought Marquette to within three at 63-60.

  “Ryan (Campisi) was like what can I do. He was all over Bland most of the time. I told him there isn’t much more you can do than tackle him,” Bryant said. “Give the Bland kid credit. When you get on a roll like that sometimes you feel like nobody can stop you.”

  “When you get a player of Tanner’s caliber hot like he was, he’s mighty tough to stop,” Schultz said. “He’s quite possibly the best pure shooter we’ve had around Marquette . That was a very impressive show he put on and we nearly pulled it off.”

  Green however shut the door on the Crusader rally by hitting six straight free throws during the final half minute of play to cool off Marquette ’s fiery comeback.

  “I’ve been on top of our free throw ladder in practice for most of the year. I really take pride in my free throws and I was happy I could help hold them off at the end,” Green said.

  Green paced Plano (2-9) with 18 points, while Matt Smith added 14 and Taylor Loux notched 13. Along with Bland’s monster game, Marquette (2-10) got eight points from Corey Brown and six from Jordan McDonald.

  Bland ended up tied for fourth in scoring at Plano with 74 points during the four day event. He will now have his name added to an elite group of athletes whom have ticked the twines at the Classic over the past four and a half decades.

  “I knew we needed a comeback and my teammates got me open and I started raining. When you get in a flow like that you don’t think your going to miss. Anything you put up is going in so you keep shooting,” Bland said. “I’d trade the points for a win, but give Plano credit, they hit their free throws down the stretch. I was just shocked I was able to have another great game like this at Plano . I’m proud, but sort of speechless when it comes to now being in the record books here.”

  No words can really do the performance justice.