Pro-active efforts from Burns, Bald bolster Grant

MILWAUKEE - Grant seniors Mike Burns and Devan Bald had no trouble finding their shooting range in the expansive environment of an NBA arena Saturday afternoon.

They came out and looked like big-league veterans in a nonconference boys basketball game against McHenry at the BMO Harris Bradley Center, the home of the Milwaukee Bucks.

Burns was 4-for-6 from 3-point range en route to a game-high 23 points and Bald hit his first 4 shots and scored 12 points as Grant (14-12) won its third straight game 58-51.

"It was very cool and very exciting for me and my teammates," Burns said after making 7 of 11 shots.

"Awesome," Bald said after also getting 4 assists. "I'll remember this for the rest of my life, no doubt."

So will the rest of their teammates as Grant was 21-for-41 from the field and built a 12-point lead with 1:11 left. Ryan Noda andSteve Dunning added 9 points apiece as everyone in uniform got to play on the Bucks' floor.

"The win was obviously the most important to us today but everybody did get out there," said Grant coach Wayne Bosworth. "It was a special night for our guys and we wanted to make sure they remembered that.

"I give them a lot of credit because they were able to build that lead and that allowed us to get some of the other guys in there."

Noda had a first-half steal and dunk and Burns had 13 second-quarter points. Kyle Postal had 15 points and Nick Bellich added 14 as McHenry (10-14) was 9-for-33 on 3s.

"We came here ready to win a game and that focus helped a lot," Burns said.

"At first there was a shock factor that this was actually happening," Bald said. "But once we started it was just another game. We knew we had to be focused and we did what we had to do."