The Eagles allow 15 first-half points and make half their 3-pointers to beat Mission Prep 76-49.
By JEREMY WRITT
Published December 27, 2003
GULFPORT - Brandon added a stellar offensive performance to their usually stifling defense, beating Mission Prep (Calif.) 76-49 in the first round of the Hooter's Holiday Shootout.
Brandon's defense was suffocating during the first half, allowing 15 points.
"We wanted to see if they could handle the pressure," Brandon coach Mark Hermann said.
Mission Prep did not make its first field goal until 4:15 left in the first. At that point, Brandon's Zaronn Cann was outscoring them 8-3. Had it not been for foul trouble, Cann might have continued to outscore it.
Cann had a free throw, 3-pointer and crowd-rousing alley-oop to open the game. After Mission Prep's Bass Yessoufou made a free throw, Cann made a one-handed runner in the lane.
The Royals continued to have trouble scoring. They started slowly in every quarter except the fourth, when the outcome already was decided.
Their first points in the second quarter came with 6:40 left, and they needed almost two minutes to score in the third.
Yessoufou was the only Royal to get his offense going, leading them with 20 points.
Brandon's balanced offense made it difficult to contain. After his fast start, Mission Prep devoted a lot of attention to Cann, allowing the Eagles to get open looks from the perimeter.
Senior guard Taylor Gangis led all scorers with 21 points. He made a game-high five 3-pointers, including two at the beginning of the second half.
"Taylor finally shot the ball well," Hermann said. "He is our coach on the floor."
The Eagles shot 50 percent as a team on 3-pointers.
"We are tough to beat when we knock down our threes," Hermann said.
