When Miyamura started playing a slow, deliberate game Tuesday in Bayfield, Wolverines’ head coach Jeff Lehnus saw it as a learning opportunity.

The Wolverines dumped the ball inside and claimed a 54-40 win, their third in a row.

“They came in with a very controlled style. They slowed the game down, lots of passes,” Lehnus said. “It was a great experience for us to work with that.”

Preston Hardy led BHS (4-1) with 24 points, and Zane Phelps scored 14 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the season.

BHS (4-1) led by 20 at the end of the third quarter after a sluggish start.

“Rust was showing initially,” Lehnus said. As time wore on, we started to get our flow back.”

The Wolverines only made one 3-pointer in the game but only attempted three with their advantage in the paint.

They struggled, however, from the free-throw line.

BHS only hit 9-of-19 from the charity stripe.

The Wolverines next will play at Aztec on Thursday, the second game of a home-and-home series BHS won 62-51 to open the season.

Lehnus likened the series to adjusting to league play.

“It’s a good time to show that we have progressed as well has the other team has progressed,” he said.

heraldsports@durangoherald.com