Young Bloomfield coach has 'Cats playing 'fundamental' hoops entering SCAA Tourney

History says that the Bloomfield High School boy’s basketball squad won’t make much noise in this week’s Stoddard County Athletic Association Tournament, which will be played in the Wildcats’ iconic gymnasium beginning today.

After all, the Wildcats have lost 10 of their past 12 outings in the event, and haven’t tasted success in four years.

The problem for history – in this case – is that it has never had to defend Bloomfield junior Caleb Upchurch or try to score against the defense that first-year Wildcat coach Ben Sindle has put in place this season.

Bloomfield (6-8) has been given the No. 4 seed and will open play on Tuesday at 4 p.m. against No. 5 seed Bernie (6-6).

The Wildcats are coming off a shockingly impressive performance against Woodland on Friday, despite falling to the Cardinals 52-51 in Bloomfield.

“It is,” Sindle said of the outcome being progress for his program. “I am proud of the kids. They work their butts off.”

Sindle took over the Wildcat program last summer and has transformed the Wildcats into a program that is now capable of beating Dexter, which Bloomfield did recently, as well as nearly beating Woodland (10-4), which is ranked No. 14 in Class 3.

“It is so frustrating,” Sindle said, “because you want to get over that hump so bad.”

Bloomfield is “over that hump,” just ask Woodland coach Shawn Kinder.

“Coach (Sindle) has done a good job,” Kinder said. “Bloomfield is fundamental. Those kids are FUNDAMENTAL.”

On Friday, the Wildcats were “fundamental,” everywhere but perhaps the free-throw line.

Bloomfield missed 10 of its 16 free throws, including all four attempts in the second half.

“We missed free throws,” Sindle lamented, “and we didn’t rebound really well either.”

The Cardinals had “8 or 10 second-chance points,” according to Sindle, who had to sit his top post player, senior Lucas Dowdy, for large portions of the game due to early foul trouble.

“I call them hustle fouls,” Sindle said of Dowdy’s four fouls on the night, “because the kid has a motor all over the floor.”

Sindle’s kids held the Cardinals, who are averaging nearly 73 points per game, to 20 below their average.

Bloomfield trailed 42-36 early in the final period before making a late run that just fell short, as it limited the Cardinals to just 10 points in the final quarter.

“Woodland is a well-coached team,” Sindle said. “They are a pretty scrappy and physical team.

“To compete with them, I’m happy, but you just hate it, because you want to get over that hump.”

Woodland was paced by seniors Brayden Hastings and Reed Layton, who scored 17 and 15 points, respectively.

Young Cardinal guard Korbin Kinder, who has caused nightmares for opposing defenses all winter, was contained to just seven points.

Upchurch led Bloomfield with 23 points while senior Ayden Hutchison (12 points) and junior Matt Sanders (eight points) also contributed.

As the younger Kinder was controlled offensively, so was Dowdy, who finished with just four points.

A Wildcat win against the Mules will give the program its highest victory total since winning eight games during the 2017-18 season.

Puxico earns top-seed

Puxico (13-1) is the No. 1 seed in this week’s SCAA Tournament and will open play tonight at 8:30 p.m. against No. 8-seed Advance (2-12).

The winner of that game will face the winner of the Wildcats and Mules on Thursday at 6 p.m.

Woodland is the No. 2 seed and will face No. 7 seed Bell City (5-10) on Tuesday at 7 p.m.

Richland (Essex) (12-4) is the No. 3 seed and will open play against No. 6 seed Dexter (3-11) today at 5:30 p.m.