SHEPHERDSVILLE – A game that was already on the schedule even at the odd time of 2:30 p.m. on a Saturday, got to be played and that suited the Bullitt Central Cougars just fine.

Playing at home against Bethlehem, Bullitt Central built a 10-point lead in the third quarter, saw that margin cut to four points late in the game and then scored late to beat the Eagles 70-60.

Bullitt Central played without senior forward Dawson Kremzar who was out with an illness. The Cougars have gone with as few as six players in games this season but the three players that head coach Shane Popplewell feels can step into varsity roles and made contributions to the victory.

Senior Tripp O’Brien moved into Kremzar’s starting spot and had four points while both junior Braylon Bland and sophomore Landon Sims contributed key moments off the bench.

But it was hot shooting sophomore Jayden Kearney that fueled Bullitt Central to the victory. Kearney connected on six three-pointers in the game with five coming in the second half as he collected 18 points after missing much of the first half after picking up three fouls.

Kearney had three of the long shots in the third quarter as Bullitt Central pushed the margin to ten points at 48-38 after Bullitt Central had a 32-30 halftime edge. The final three-pointer by the sophomore pushed the Cougars ahead 60-50 with just three minutes remaining in the game.

Bethlehem answered with a basket and then a three-pointer to cut the lead in half. Bullitt Central senior Trevor Carnes hit two free throws at the 1:49, but another Eagle three-pointer pulled the visitors within 62-58 with just over 90 seconds remaining.

However, that was as close as Bethlehem could get. A.J. Lee hit one free throw and after an exchange of turnovers, Carnes hit two more free throws. With less than a minute to play sophomore Noah Eubanks converted two free throws and then O’Brien had one to put the game out of reach.

“This game worried me,” Bullitt Central head coach Shane Popplewell said. “Our guys had been sitting around. We had a hard practice two days ago, but then had to play tonight without Dalton.

“I was proud of Tripp to step in and do what he did for us,” the coach added.

This is not a deep Bullitt Central team.

“We have played as few as six at times,” Popplewell admitted. “Some of the guys may not get a lot of playing time, but when they do they have done a good job if they have been playing a lot or a little.”

The Cougars got the normal steady performance from Lee who finished with 13 points while handling the ball most of the time.

“He does so much for us,” Popplewell said of Lee who did not come out of the game on Saturday. “What he does handling the ball, we don’t win as many games without him. He has to be in tremendous shape.

“He cannot come out,” the coach said. “He is smart with his fouls. He knows he has to be out there. Coming over from football we had a scrimmage without him and we looked like a totally different team. If he scored zero we would still need to have him.”

Carnes was seven of seven at the foul line and led the Cougars with 20 points. Kearney finished with 18 while Lee had 13 and Eubanks 11.

Bullitt Central shot 37 percent in the win and were 12 of 25 on three-pointers. The team was 14 of 22 at the foul line.

The Eagles shot only 30 percent overall. The visitors took 35 three-pointers, but made just nine. Bethlehem did make 15 of 18 at the free throw line.

Bullitt Central stated this week with a 13-6 record. The team played at home against Whitefield Academy early in the week. That is the Cougars’ final tuneup before they make the short trip on Friday to play at North Bullitt in a key 23rd District game. This is the meeting between the two rivals that will be used to seed the upcoming 23rd District Tournament that Bullitt Central will host the week of February 22.

Popplewell was able to reschedule a game with Fairdale that was lost during the big snow. Those teams will meet on Wednesday of next week at Fairdale in a 7:30 p.m. varsity contest.

At Bullitt Central

Saturday, January 31

BETHLEHEM 60 (14-16-12-18) Jack Bradley 13, Owen Scholes 11, Conner Denton 10, Jake Carroll 8, Brayden McCubbins 8, Xander Willett 7, Thomas Mudd 3.

BULLITT CENTRAL 70 (11-21-16-22) Trevor Carnes 20, Jayden Kearney 18, A.J. Lee 13, Noah Eubanks 11, Tripp O’Brien 4, Landon Sims 3. Braylon Bland 1.