By ISAAC BOURNE | For The Arkadelphian

Just halfway through the first quarter of the Arkadelphia Badgers 75-28 win over the Gurdon Go-Devils, the Badgers were up 15-0 due to their electric offense.

“We’re all about starting fast no matter what the situation is,” Head Coach Garrett Garner said after the game. “Everything is about a good start and a fast start, and we feel like if we start fast, good things happen for us.” 

At the end of the first quarter, Arkadelphia had conceded just four points to rival Gurdon in comparison to the Badgers’ 27. The Go-Devils even had trouble getting the ball past half court, as the Badgers’ press breathed down the neck of the Gurdon offense. 

The fiery first half offense came via the connection between sophomore guard James Elgas and sophomore wing OB Roberts. Elgas finished the half with 10 points and multiple assists to Roberts, while Roberts finished the half with 14 points on three triples from the corner. Elgas’ ability to create penetration to the paint left Roberts open to knock down shot after shot in the corner. 

After a physical first half, Elgas went to the locker room in the second half with an apparent foot injury, but coach Garner assures that it is not serious.

“He’s OK. He’s been battling a little bit of a foot injury, but this was just precautionary to check him out and make sure he was okay.”

The Badgers will bring that physicality and toughness into a Monday night battle against the 3-3 Lakeside Rams.