BROWNSTOWN
Shooting 57 percent from the floor and 64 percent from the 3-point arc in the first half, the Brownstown Central boys basketball team put on a scoring clinic Friday.
Jacoby Shade scored a career-high 28 points as the Braves ran away with a 88-55 win against Mid-Southern Conference foe Clarksville on Friday.
After trailing 0-4 with 7:01 left in the first quarter, the Braves went on a 10-0 run, capped by a 3-pointer from Cam Shoemaker.
The Braves then finished the quarter on a 16-2 run. In the final 1:59, Shade hit a basket and then netted three consecutive 3-pointers to give the his team a 26-6 lead.
Part-way through the second quarter, Braves coach Dave Benter brought Darrell Branaman, who usually plays at the end of games, off the bench.
“Darrell is getting better; you can see it every night in practice,” Benter said of the increase in minutes. “I have a lot of confidence in him. He plays so hard and he’s smart. He’s not going to do anything to hurt us. He’s such a good kid it’s good to get him involved.”
Following a basket from Nick Bryant, Shade hit back-to-back baskets to put the Braves up 30-8 at the 5:49 mark.
A 3-pointer from the Braves’ Cole Borden, followed by a steal that turned into a Matthew Nierman basket gave the home team a 43-20 advantage at the half.
At halftime, the Braves had knocked down seven shots from deep.
“When we move the basketball, cut hard and screen well we have a lot of guys who can shoot,” Benter said. “We’ve just got to understand those things don’t come easily. I thought we did those things well tonight.”
Despite the Generals’ Bryant sinking five 3-pointers in the third quarter, the Braves continued to find scoring options with six players tallying points.
Up 71-42 at the beginning of the final quarter, Borden hit another 3-pointer for the Braves.
With 4:24 remaining, up 82-45, the Braves were able to unload the remainder of their bench.
On top of his points, Shade led the Braves with six rebounds.
“Not only was (Shade) on fire, but I think that was the best basketball I’ve seen him play all year, and probably his career,” Benter said. “He had such a good week of practice and I had hoped he would be rewarded well. He didn’t only score but he was very active on the floor getting rebounds, steals and assists.”
The Braves (15-2) will return to action Thursday night at Class 4A Columbus East.