NEW HAVEN — Swept at the hands of Steelville, Jacob Walton’s Bland Bear basketball teams looked to get back on the winning track Thursday night on the road at New Haven against the host Shamrocks.

Pitching a first-half shutout, Bland went on to handily win the seventh-grade game over New Haven by a final score of 64-7.

All eight guys that saw playing time for the visiting Bears got into the scoring column.

Scoring to help Bland to a 23-0 lead after one quarter was Garrett Gehlert (5), Chase Trainor (4), Kooper Elrod (4), Wyatt Lackey (4), Cooper Guinn (2), Avery Craigmiles (2) and Hank Stratman (2).

Adding 21 points in the second quarter, the Bears went into halftime with a commanding 44-0 lead.

Winning the second half 20-7, Bland easily bounced back from a tough loss to Steelville earlier in the week.

Gehlert led the Bears with a double double of 14 points and 12 steals.

Trainor and Lackey also reached double figures for Bland with 10 points each.

Lackey added eight rebounds and four steals to his stat line.

Stratman just missed a double double finishing with nine points, eight assists, four steals and three rebounds.

Guinn followed closely behind Stratman with eight points. Craigmiles scored all seven of his points in the first half.

Elrod added four points while Braxton Wilburn rounded out the scoring for the seventh-grade Bears with two points.

Lewis Wray led New Haven with three points followed by two each from Duncan Wilding and Henry Vedder.

Looking for the doubleheader sweep, Bland’s 8th grade Bears hit the court next against the host Shamrocks.

Taking a 23-0 lead after one quarter, Bland went on to complete the doubleheader sweep taking the 8th grade game 52-16.

Glayden Woodruff led Bland with a near triple double of 20 points, 13 rebounds and six steals.

Drew Brown just missed double figures in scoring with nine points.

Brody Reed and Jon Valley followed closely with eight points each.

Valley added 10 rebounds and six steals to his eight points.

Alec Elrod rounded out the scoring for Bland’s 8th grade Bears with seven points.

As it turns out, Bland’s doubleheader with New Haven ended their season.

Their scheduled doubleheader for Monday night at Owensville was canceled  due to a positive COVID-19 test by an Owensville Middle School staff member. With this being near the end of Bland’s season, the game will not be rescheduled.