The midseason mark for the 7-1 Bedford High School boys’ basketball team will be a Dual County League showdown at 8-0 Waltham on Tuesday, beginning at 7 p.m. in the Hawks’ gym.
And if the Hawks plan to pack the paint and force the Bucs to shoot from the outside, Bedford should be ready.
“They have to guard us on the perimeter now,” said Head Coach Anthony Halls on Friday after his team buried 12 three-point field goals, pacing a 73-50 home victory over Wayland.
It took a while for the Bucs to put Friday’s game away. Wayland chose to concentrate its defense inside, and Bedford shooters responded with five first-half trifectas.
Leading by 11 at the half, Bedford was outscored 10-0 over the first four minutes of the third quarter. The Bucs recovered to regain most of the lead, 47-38 at the end of the period with Keston Paul and Jireh Joseph dividing eight timely points.
Then Trevor Forman led a fourth-quarter explosion, swishing five of seven three-point attempts. It was the junior’s first game action at home since injuring a foot early in the opening game on Dec. 15. Forman finished with 21 points on seven from 16 outside the arc.
Justice Buchannan scored 22, shooting 60 percent from the field and adding seven rebounds and three steals.
Bedford enjoyed an enormous 42-27 rebounding advantage. Cam Shoesmith had 19 boards, nine of them on the offensive glass.
Halls acknowledged the team’s occasional offensive lapses.
“If you miss shots, turn the ball over, you’re going to struggle, no matter who you’re playing,” the coach said.
He said his players need to “do a better job of recognizing game situations and being able to execute.”
Led by Forman’s 21, the Bedford reserves scored 34 points as Halls played 10 Buccaneers while the outcome was still in doubt. He said he has been “making a conscious effort to get more from the bench. Everyone who gets the opportunity has to be able to produce. Then we can put runs together like that one,” which was 26-12 in the fourth quarter.
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