Bridgeport Boys prepare for Western Trails Conference Tournament

BRIDGEPORT, NE - The Western Trails Conference tournament starts Thursday and the Bridgeport Bulldogs get things started with a team they’ve seen twice already this season: the Bayard Tigers.

"The teams are very quality," head coach Nick Broz said. "Everyone has good records and has performed at a high rate so far this year. Going into the tournament, we're just worried about Bayard on Thursday night and being able to win and advance." 

Bridgeport has won both matchups so far this season with Bayard. Broz says says defense will need to lead the way for a third victory.

"We preach that a ton," Broz said. "If we can do the things we want to do defensively, create the pressure, get the situations that are going to give them a hard time, rebound the ball well, we just flow on offense then and use our talents and abilities." 

Two weeks ago, the Bridgeport boys came up just short of an SPVA tournament title, losing in the Finals to Hershey.

No Hershey in the WTC, but Bridgeport could see a matchup with number one-seeded Mitchell in the tourney finals.

"They've got five kids coming back from last year's team," Broz said. "They got a lot of experience, talent, athleticism. They're the number one seed for a reason. We were able to play them earlier in the year so we have a good read for them, but that's a long ways down the road."

The 13-4 Bulldogs aren’t going to shy away from any challenges this weekend though.

"We just need to be ourselves, play together, and I think we can get it done if we have good fundamentals and play tough" junior point guard Cole Faessler said. 

BOYS TOURNAMENT:

Mitchell gets the first round off as the number one seed.

Bridgeport faces Bayard at home in the first round. 

The other first round matchups are Kimball at Gordon-Rushville and Morrill at Hemingford. 

GIRLS TOURNAMENT:

 Bridgeport earned the number one seed and a bye to the semifinals. 

First round girls matchups are: Morrill at Gordon-Rushville, Kimball at Bayard and Hemingford at Mitchell. 

The semifinal and final rounds for boys and girls will be played at WNCC.