Bees open season with win at Morgan

Box Elder opened the season on the road in one of the toughest places to play in Northern Utah. And after taking an early lead, then losing it, they held on for a tough 77-72 win over Morgan.

Sophomore shooting guard Max Watson paced the Bees with 22 points. Senior Jarom Mecham added 18, Darius McFarland had 13, and Chase Oliva added 10 for 4A Box Elder (1-0). Dalan Stanford led 3A Morgan (0-2) with 27 points.

“It was good to get the first one under way and started,” said Box Elder coach Jace McKee. “We have to be better on defense. They were premier oriented, but they knocked (the three pointers) down. They used the home court well.”

The Trojans made nine 3-pointers in the game, compared to Box Elder’s 10. Morgan made 19 of 24 free throws (79 percent), versus the Bees, who hit on only 17 of 32 (53 percent). “We have to get better on (shooting foul shots),” said McKee.

Box Elder also had to fight foul trouble with the Big Three of McFarland, Mecham and Watson. All three had four fouls in the fourth quarter and McFarland eventually fouled out.

“(The foul trouble) slowed us down and took us out of our rhythm,” said McKee. We missed Jarom out there. But those guys have been starting for a long time and are experienced. We have to have them on the floor to play well.”

Next up for the Bees is a Friday match up with Northridge. The 5A Knights shockingly dropped a game to 2A Layton Christian on Tuesday. McKee said the Knights were a guard-oriented team, much like Morgan. “That’s a good, big school with a lot of athletes,” said McKee.

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