Sun | Sports

By Nathan Joce, njoyce@kitsapsun.com - Dec 10th, 2005

Bremerton

If you're a fan of basketball games where officials blow whistles until their lungs are burning and coaches have sore scalps from pulling their hair in frustration, Friday night's tilt at Bremerton High was for you.

The Bremerton Knights (2-2) and Capital (2-1) combined to shoot 57 free throws as the Cougars won the non-league game, 76-56.

Coaches aren't normally anxious to comment about officiating, and last night was no exception.

"I think that everybody that saw the game tonight can walk away with their own opinions on that," Bremerton coach Casey Lindberg said.

It started in the second quarter, when the officials forgot to reward Bremerton's Ben Wilson a free throw after he was fouled with the Knights in the bonus.

The mistake was discovered several minutes later, when Ulysses Williams was fouled and the refs checked how many fouls were on the scoreboard. Calling it a correctable error — to the amazement of Capital coach Doug Galloway — they awarded Wilson a 1-and-1, and he hit both free throws. Then Williams stepped up and hit one of his free throws.

Things digressed in the second half, when the whistle seemed to blow on just about every possession.

"It takes us out of the flow," Wilson said. "We can't get things going when the refs keep stopping the game."

Bremerton hit 19 of 31 free throws; Capital hit 17 of 26.

The Knights' play earned them a stern lecture from Lindberg after the game.

"We have potential," Lindberg said. "If we choose to execute our potential, we can be really tough.

"Our kids need to figure out which way they want to go."

And they'll need to figure it out quick. The Narrows League Bridge Division season starts Wednesday, with Bremerton traveling to Central Kitsap.

"I think this team has the character and leadership needed to do it," Lindberg said. "It doesn't have a lot to do with Xs and Os right now."

"I think that we've learned we can play really well as a team, but when we break apart, the whole thing shuts down," Wilson said.

Capital broke open a close game with a 12-1 run in the third quarter. The Cougars were led by the inside play of 6-foot-11 Michael McIver (11 points) and the outside play of Andy Beagle 13 points.

Capital 75, Bremerton 56

Capital 16 14 27 19 — 76

Bremerton 9 16 12 19 — 56

Capital — Aaron Lampkin 11, Reid Haefer 7, Andy Beagle 13, Tom Rohrer 8, Michael McIver 12, Conor McDonald 6, Brad Jesernig 4, Robert Powell 6, Cory Roby 2, Brennan O'Keefe 5, Quang Tran 2.

Bremerton — Trace Jordan 10, Ben Wilson 6, Michael Morgan 4, Moises Lovinaria 3, Demetrius Gittens 2, Ulysses Williams 9, Patrick Lewis 10, Tyrese Harrison 12, Jericho Bautiste, Devon Vanderbush.