Bearcats off to best start in 11 years
Rob Burchianti | 缅北禁地
Bentworth coach Bob Kennedy talks to his players during a timeout in the Bearcats鈥� 66-50 win over visiting Avella on Friday night. Bentworth is off to a 4-0 start for the first time since the 2011-12 season.
Rob Burchianti | 缅北禁地
Bentworth鈥檚 Landon Urcho drives in for a layup in the Bearcats鈥� 66-50 win over visiting Avella on Friday night. Urcho, who recently went over the 1,000-point mark for his career, scored a game-high 20 points to help Bentworth get off to a 4-0 start for the first time since the 2011-12 season.
Bentworth's Ben Hays takes a jump聽 against visiting Avella on Friday night. Hays scored 11 points in the Bearcats' 66-50 victory.
Bentworth's Christian May takes a baseline jumper in the Bearcats' 66-50 win over visiting Avella on Friday night.
BENTLEYVILLE 鈥� Before this year the last time Bentworth鈥檚 boys basketball team won its first four games was during the 2011-12 season. The Bearcats started that season 6-0 and wound up 18-4 overall with a section championship.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been awhile,鈥� said Bentworth coach Bob Kennedy, who is in his 21st year with the Bearcats.
This year鈥檚 squad improved to 4-0 with a 66-50 victory over visiting Avella on Friday night and features 1,000-point scorer Landon Urcho who hit that milestone in the previous game last Tuesday with 21 points in a 51-45 win against visiting Jefferson-Morgan.
Urcho also had an outstanding 2021-22 season but that team finished 7-14.
鈥淚t feels great to get off to such a good start this year,鈥� said Urcho, who scored 20 points in the win over the Eagles. 鈥淲e鈥檙e really coming together as a team. Everything has been clicking. We have good chemistry this year.
鈥淚 have high hopes for the season.鈥�
One key to the Bearcats success so far has been a bigger roster than in the recent past.
鈥淲e鈥檝e got good numbers so it helps us practice better and this group of kids works hard at it,鈥� Kennedy said. 鈥淚鈥檓 happy with the way they鈥檙e coming along and picking up on the game.鈥�
Urcho was happy about scoring his 1,000th point and the celebration that ensued last week but is prepared to move on.
鈥淚t felt real nice,鈥� said the senior guard. 鈥淚t was good to sort of get that over with though so now I can focus solely on the games.鈥�
While Urcho is known for his offensive exploits, he and his teammates have played well at the other end of the floor as well this season.
鈥淲e鈥檝e been playing good defense,鈥� said Kennedy of his team鈥檚 man-to-man. 鈥淚鈥檝e got about five seniors but most of them are freshmen and sophomores. The guys we put out on the floor, and some of them are pretty young, they all play good team defense.
鈥淭hey get in there and help each other. That鈥檚 part of the game. I鈥檇 rather play man-to-man any day of the week.鈥�
Bentworth put three players in double figures in Friday鈥檚 win with freshman Ben Hays (11) and sophomore Aiden McMurray (10) following Urcho in the scoring column.
The Bearcats will be tested tonight when they play South Side Beaver which was a playoff team last season.