BGM's Beau Burns (2) drives to the paint in a game against HLV-TC Friday, Jan. 16 in Victor. (Ben Lamparek/Hometown Current)

Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.

VICTOR — The first quarter was surely one to forget for the BGM boys basketball team in a South Iowa Cedar League matchup with HLV-TC Friday.

The Bears did not score until the 2:11 mark, when Robby Tometich hit a three pointer, and produced just five points, trailing 12-5 after one.

“We just kind of came out flat and weren’t hustling,” Beau Burns said.

BGM flipped the switch in the second quarter, starting on the defensive end with extended ball pressure and those hustle plays that were lacking early.

Forced turnovers turned into easy baskets. The Bears were also moving the ball better on the offensive end against the zone.

HLV-TC made a concerted effort to clog the paint anytime post Ben Cadden touched the ball, making difficult anything other than pass.

“He had a good night passing and was making the right decisions,” BGM coach Jake Tibbetts said. “He got us a lot of good looks,” Burns said.

A 16-point quarter gave BGM a 21-17 halftime lead.

HLV-TC's Cash Hawkins shoots a free throw in a game against BGM Friday, Jan. 16 in Victor. (Ben Lamparek/Hometown Current)

Cash Hawkins kept the Warriors in reach for nearly the entire second half, stepping up in the scoring department with the usual starter, Tucker Donaldson, sidelined.

A Hawkins drive and pair of free throws cut the lead to 24-23. BGM responded with a three from Maddox Rhoads and extended the lead to seven at 32-25 through three quarters.

The Warriors had one more run in them. Five more points from Hawkins and three from McCulloch and the deficit was down to one again at 34-33 in the fourth.

BGM's Maddox Rhoads passes the ball in a game against HLV-TC Friday, Jan. 16 in Victor. (Ben Lamparek/Hometown Current)

Rhoads delivered again, hitting a three at the 3:11 mark, to give the Bears the cushion they needed in the final minutes.

“That shot was a deep breath for us,” Tibbetts said. “He pulled us out of a lull, and it got all of us going.”

BGM closed the game on a 11-4 run for a 45-37 win.

“We just executed when we needed too,” Tibbetts said. “We knew it was going to be a dogfight for 32 minutes. It started defensively getting the stops we needed and we came up with enough shots late.”