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The Bluffton girls basketball coach spent most of Friday night's game against region rival Battery Creek in frustration. Roberts' team -- which entered averaging 52.6 points per game -- was held to just 11 first-half points and shot an abysmal 18 percent (3 for 17) from the free throw line through the first two periods.
But when it mattered most, the Bobcats came to play.
Bluffton -- mired in an offensive slump through the first 24 minutes -- exploded for 20 points in the game's final quarter, rallying for a hard-fought 38-33 win over Battery Creek to remain perfect in Region 7-AAA.
"A win is a win," Roberts said. "This is not us. This is not a typical Bluffton team. We usually play with a lot of energy and we believe in scoring points."
Jennifer Giles helped break a 22-all stalemate midway through the fourth with a 3-pointer before the veteran guard put the game away with a pair of free throws with 3.6 seconds on the clock.
Giles was held to just eight points in the win, all of which came in the second half. She had been averaging 14.1 points per contest.
"I don't think we were moving the ball enough," Giles said. "We weren't being careful with the ball. They were anticipating all the passes that we were making."
Tibra Wheeler helped keep Bluffton (13-3, 4-0) in striking distance with a game-high 18 points, eight of which came in the Bobcats' 11-point first-half.
Alisha Varela led the Dolphins (3-11, 2-2) with 10 points, seven of which came in the first half. Her 3-pointer from the right wing with 46 seconds to play helped pull Battery Creek within three before the Dolphins' upset bid came up short.
Bluffton returns to region action on Tuesday against Hilton Head High, which is also unbeaten in league play. The Bobcats know that if they're going to top the Seahawks, they'll have to get more production on the offensive end.
"When we're on, we're on," Roberts said. "But the last two games, we've shot poorly. Hopefully we can kind of find our stroke."
Bluffton 38, Battery Creek 33
Bluffton (13-3, 4-0 Region 7-AAA) -- Tibra Wheeler 18, Jennifer Giles 8, Shakeria Kitty 6, Monique Bryant 4, Justice Hill 2
Battery Creek (3-11, 2-2 Region 7-AAA) -- Alisha Varela 10, Khadijah Badger 6, Daisja Cannon 5, Ericka Alston 4, Elizabeth Ford 4, Alex Bazemore 2, Matalyn Dearsman 2
Bluffton boys 78, Battery Creek 38
The Bluffton boys basketball team heard painful reminders all week about last season's demoralizing loss to Battery Creek.
Coach Brett Macy kept telling the Bobcats that they were outworked and outmuscled a season ago in a 10-point defeat on the Dolphins' home floor.
"That's what coach kept telling us," Bryson Bell said. "We were the better team, but they just out-toughed us physically and mentally. We just weren't ready for that."
The Bobcats made sure it would be a different story this time around.
Bell notched a game-high 13 points while three other players added nine each as Bluffton cruised to a 78-38 win over Battery Creek Friday night.
"We remember last year," Bell said. "Last year was really depressing for us. So we just came here ready to play."
That was apparent from the outset, as Bluffton (11-2, 3-1 Region 7-AAA) jumped out to an early 20-2 lead and never looked back.
"We didn't want to be soft again," said C.J. Frazier, who added nine points in the win. "We don't want to be soft ever again. That's never going to happen."
Battery Creek (4-13, 1-2 Region 7-AAA) trailed by 16 at the half and 40 by game's end thanks to a 25-4 run to end the fourth period.
Bluffton (11-2, 3-1 Region 7-AAA) -- Bryson Bell 13, BJ Hill 10, CJ Frazier 9, Harlan Kendrick 9, Bo Strimpfel 9, Dimitri Lowry 7, Demetrius Smalls 5, Jeremy Scott 5, Michael Grant 4, Juwan Allen 3, Ahdonus Cofer 2, Marquis Webber 2
Battery Creek (4-13, 1-2 Region 7-AAA) -- Jason Green 10, Michael Robinson 8, Tyrone Kelson 7, Justice Oliver 3, Leroy Jennette 2, Cleveland Hampton 2, Tyrek Byson 2, Raheem Cooper 2, Teyvon Jennette 1, Devontae Wilson 1
