BROWNSTOWN
With the winter sports season at a close, the Brownstown Central boys basketball program had plenty to celebrate at their awards ceremony Tuesday.
With a roster concentrated with underclassmen, the Braves varsity team made waves in 2014-15 amassing a record of 17-4.
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Throughout the season, the Braves consistently found themselves ranked in the top-10 in Class 3A.
“Each group of guys is special and unique,” Benter said. “You look back and remember every team you coach and are a part of. We had a very successful season. What we lost last year and where we are right now, I’m very pleased with the development of our guys.”
At the start of the varsity segment of the ceremony, Braves coach Dave Benter first and foremost made sure all of the coaches, from elementary to high school, received recognition.
Benter said that without having such great assistants, the program wouldn’t be as successful as it is today.
In the past six seasons, Benter’s boys varsity teams have a combined record of 131-17 — the most of any coach, of any class, in Indiana high school basketball.
This season, the Braves came in losing three seniors.
“This is the most starters we will have returning since, I would guess, 2002,” Benter said. “They’ve got to get better. Other teams aren’t going to stand around. We have have to have a good off season and come back next year different individually and as a team.”
Braves senior Collin DeHart was honored for his tenure with the Braves on the night. Benter said he started to know DeHart’s game around the third grade.
“Collin has always been advanced for his age and we’ve been able to see him grow up,” Benter said. “You form a special bond with those (seniors). He’s going to be missed, but I expect that he’s going to be a guy who comes back and sees us. I think he will be successful in whatever he does.”
DeHart received the outstanding defense and the Jonathon Brewer mental attitude award on the night.
The field goal percentage award went to Cam Shoemaker, who shot 56 percent on the season. Shoemaker also grabbed the rebounding award.
Jacoby Shade shot 89.4 percent from the charity stripe in 2014-15 on top of leading the team in scoring to grab awards.
The Most Valuable Player went to Zach McCory. McCory also led the team with 108 dimes to grab the assists award.
Shoemaker, Shade and McCory were all named to the Graber Post Buildings Classic All-Tournament team.
Gavin Bane got the most improved player award, and Carson Lambring notched the free throw award for the Braves junior varisty team that finished 13-4.