In a battle between two basketball programs looking for their first win of the season — and in Islands High’s case, first win ever — Bradwell Institute beat the Sharks 85-23 on Tuesday at BI.
Tiger coach Pete Woodard said the victory came at a good time as the Tigers get into the meat of the Region 3-AAAAA schedule. The win also gave BI a mental shot in the arm.
“When you’ve lost 10 games in a row any win is a boost because you are looking at that one thing that will give you the confidence,” he said. “You get tired of hearing that you are playing well or you are so close if this would have happened or if that would have happened,” Woodard said. “Now we had a game where we went out there and played convincingly and it gives you confidence.”
The Tigers got that confidence early. By halftime, Bradwell led the Sharks 51-7 and five players finished the game in double figures, including senior Cameron Kight, who had a game-high 16 points.
But the Tigers, who improved to 1-10 overall and 1-6 in the region, still have a ways to go.
“Right now we are five fingers but until we become a hand we aren’t a complete team,” he said. “We haven’t accomplished that yet. I think they got the message. This has to be a team concept. We have to go out there and play to the best of our ability and play as a team instead of playing like individuals.”
Woodard said Tuesday’s game was the first time he and his coaching staff saw the Tigers play with confidence. Now, BI has to face region power Savannah High.
“Right now Savannah High is where I’m used to them being,” Woodard said. “They had an off year last year but they are back to where they usually are. Savannah High, they’re a hand, they are not five fingers. We know they are going to be aggressive. We know they are going to come at us with that pressure defense and man-to-man full court so I told the guys just what to expect.”

BI top scorers: Cameron Kight 16, Miguel Pineda 14, Dazjon Tinae 10, Thomas Smith 10, Anthony Campbell 10, Rodney Hawkins 6, Malcolm Dingle 4, Deon Craig 8, Jamael Smith 7, Alex Hamilton 2