Jensen pours in five 4th quarter threes in Bears win

If the Bear River Bears’ opening game of the annual Bear River Winter Classic is any indication of the next two games, watch out!

After building an early lead against Layton Christian Academy (1-1), then watching as it disappeared in the second quarter, Bear River (1-1) somehow found a way to pull off the thrilling win, 69-65.

Caleb Jensen, a reserve shooting guard, came off the bench and ignited the Bears in the fourth quarter, nailing five three pointers on the way to 18 points in the game to lead BR. Triston Hartfiel was saddled with early foul trouble but still managed 15 points and Gunner Sorensen scrapped his way to 11 points. LCA point guard Mark Burton led all scorers with 33 points, including four three pointers.

Amazingly, the Bears made their run with three of their starters on the bench in the fourth quarter. Instead, coach Scott Hunt turned to Jensen, a junior, Jake Dahle, a sophomore guard, and Marshall Pond, a junior center, to get back in the game. The trio, with Hartfiel and Sorensen, didn’t disappoint as they scored 29 points in the final stanza.

“I thought we started the game really well. They switched defenses on us and we didn’t handle (the zone) very well,” said Hunt. “We got into some foul trouble and turned the ball over way too much.”

Of Jensen, who heated up faster than the mid-day sun, Hunt said, “Caleb Jensen is a great shooter. When he gets hot things can happen and we got a little momentum.”

Hunt knew the Bears had to do something after LCA built a 35-23 halftime lead. The change was an aggressive, trapping defense.

“We changed our defense into a half court trap,” said Hunt. “We crept back in with some big threes. It was a tough game. We have some depth. There’s not a ton of difference between one and 10 (on our depth chart). Kids come off the bench. If they are ready the will play.

Tomorrow the Bears take on old region rival Stansbury at 8 p.m. Fremont will play Pocatello at 6:30. Both games are in BR’s Memorial Gym.

Hunt said he would preach to the team about not letting their guard down Friday because Stansbury is a good team. “They are a big strong, physical team. We will talk about a let down (after an emotional win). This is the time of the season where we look for heart and toughness.”

<span style=”text-decoration: underline;”><strong>Score by quarters</strong></span>

<strong>LCA 12 23 14 16 – 65</strong>

<strong>BR 14 9 17 29 – 69</strong>

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