By Justin Jarrett
LowcoSports.com
The fledgling boys basketball program at Bridges Prep hasn’t gotten off to a roaring start the past few years, averaging just four wins in the Buccaneers’ first three seasons. But you have to walk before you run, and the Bridges boys have taken several huge strides forward in the first three weeks of the 2021-22 season.
The Bucs ran their winning streak to seven games — which included four wins in four days — with a 54-24 home rout of crosstown rival Holy Trinity on Monday for the Bucs’ seventh straight victory.
Desmond Locke continued his red-hot start with 13 points, 10 rebounds, and four steals, and Damien Bee added 10 points, seven boards, eight assists, and five steals in another outstanding all-around performance to lead the Bucs.
Matthew Torres knocked down a trio of 3-pointers for Bridges, while Jeremiah Ponder added seven points, and Davion Washington had six points and seven boards.
The win continued a red-hot streak for the Bucs that included four wins in four days last week, capped off by a 55-44 home win over Memorial Day on Thursday, just three days after edging the Matadors by two on the road.
The Bucs’ only two losses have come against Beaufort Academy, which is off to a fantastic start of its own and swept a home-and-home series with Class 4A Bluffton. Those games were decided by eight and 16 points, so Bridges likes the way it stacks up in Region 6-1A.
The senior point guard Bee stole the show Thursday night, pouring in 22 points to go with 11 rebounds, 10 assists, and seven steals in a triple-double. Torres added eight points, and Sammy McGowan had five for the Bucs.
A night earlier, Bridges handled Savannah Classical, winning 61-45 behind a trio of double-digit scorers as Bee scored 13 points, dished out 11 assists, and grabbed five boards. His brother, sophomore guard Desmond Locke, pulled down a double-double with 12 points and 11 boards, while the sophomore Torres added 13 points and four assists, and Davion Washington contributed nine points and five boards.
On Tuesday, the Bucs notched perhaps their most impressive victory yet, pulling out a 55-54 overtime win at Hilton Head Christian Academy. Bee poured in 19 points to go with 10 assists and seven rebounds, Locke collected 11 points, 10 boards, and four assists, and Ponder hit 4 of 5 3-pointers for 14 points to lead the Buccaneers. Matthew Torres added five points and five boards for Bridges.
Bridges coach Darrius Brockington has a couple of stars in Bee and Locke, and with new role players stepping up every night, the Bucs are confident they can keep it rolling when they start region play next week against Bethune-Bowman.
“We’re trying,” Brockington said. “We’ve never gotten the recognition, so it feels good to finally make a little noise and be in the conversation.”
