Bucs win big on eve of conference opener

BRENHAM, Texas – Four days before their Region XIV Conference opener, the Blinn Buccaneers played their best basketball of the young season.

Freshman forward Rashaun Stimage scored 18, Darrell Combs scored 16 and Donald Moore added 15 as the Bucs defeated Victoria College 81-44 Friday in the Blinn P.E. Building.

The victory improved the Buccaneers to 4-3 on the season and 3-1 on their home court this season. Blinn has now won both its games since Moore, a freshman point guard, returned from a wrist injury that forced him to miss the Bucs' first five contests.

"I thought Donald Moore's play really allowed Darrell Combs to get some easy shots," said coach Scott Schumacher. "He was penetrating it and then kicking the ball out, and when Darrell gets open shots he's going to make them."

The Buccaneers took a 42-28 lead into halftime, and a 12-0 run extended that lead to 60-33 with 10 minutes to go in the game.

"We're moving the ball better on offense, we're playing defense better on the half court and we're doing it for longer periods of time," Schumacher said. "Rashaun has put together three straight games in which he's come focused and ready to play and Darrell has been very consistent for us."

Najee Farr added nine points and Kendall Deveaux scored eight off the bench.

The Buccaneers open Region XIV Conference play Tuesday when they host Paris Junior College at 7:30 p.m. in the Blinn P.E. Building.

"Obviously, every coach in the league would like two or three more weeks to get their guys rounded into shape, but the last two games we've played good man-to-man defense, we've shared the ball on offense and we've come in focused and ready to play," Schumacher said.