Boys Basketball: Bogan rolls past Urban Prep-Englewood

Updated: December 19, 2011 9:22PM

Bogan disproved the common assumption that no game is ever won or lost in the first quarter.

The host No. 5 Bengals opened the game with a 15-1 outburst en route to a 27-point opening quarter differential in their 79-18 win over Urban Prep-Englewood Monday.

Nine different players scored as the Bengals raced out to the 31-4 lead after the first quarter. The electric senior backcourt of Ronnell Buckner and Juwan Henry set the dominant tone at the start.

Henry drilled three three-pointers in the first quarter in scoring 11 of his game-high 17 points. Buckner played a spectacular all-around game in registering 10 points, seven assists and six steals. Bogan (9-0, 3-0 Red-South) forced 23 first-half turnovers, including 12 in the opening quarter.

The Bengals limited the Lions (3-7, 0-3) to just five baskets.

“The reason we’re 9-0 is our defense,” Buckner said. “We don’t have a lot of size, but everybody on our team is quick and runs and you saw that today, we use that speed for steals and to run out.”

The Lions did not score a field goal until forward Fred Jones scored on a putback with 3:11 to play in the first quarter. Fazson Chapman scored eight points to lead Urban Prep-Englewood.

Devonte Smith, a 6-4 senior forward, added 16 points, seven rebounds and two blocked shots for the Bengals. Guard Devaughn Johnson shook off a cold shooting streak to score six of his 12 points in the second quarter, pushing the Bengals out to a 54-14 lead at the break.

The second half was played with a running clock, and Bogan coach Arthur Goodwin was able to play his entire bench. Kendall Wesley, the team’s offensive sparkplug off the bench, added eight points, three assists and two steals.

“Our attitude is always the same,” Wesley said. “We don’t worry about the opponent. We got pumped up before the game and we were ready to play.”

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