HUXLEY – In a battle between two of the top teams in the conference, the #5 Bombers fought off a late push from #6 ADM to secure a 58-55 victory at The Hangar on Friday night.  With the win, Ballard improves to 13-1 (12-1) on the season and maintains their grip atop the standings.

The game was a back-and-forth affair, with ADM jumping out to an early 17-12 lead in the first quarter.  Ballard responded in the second, outscoring ADM 14-8 to take a 26-25 lead into halftime.  The Bombers came out firing in the third, putting up 22 points to stretch their lead, but ADM kept the pressure on until the final buzzer.

Junior Jude Gibson was the star of the night for Ballard, pouring in a game-high 26 points on 9-of-17 shooting, including a crucial 7-of-10 from the free-throw line.  Sophomore Parker Miller added 12 points, while Easton Ersland chipped in 8 points and 5 rebounds.  Ballard's defense played a key role in the victory, forcing timely turnovers and holding ADM to just 26.7% shooting from beyond the arc.  The Bombers also made the most of their opportunities at the free-throw line, converting 71.4% of their attempts.

With the win, Ballard turns its focus to Senior Night on Tuesday, February 4, when they host Gilbert at 7:30 PM.  The Bombers will look to close out the regular season strong and continue building momentum for postseason play.

Photo Credit: Davidson Photography