For The Tribune
SCOTTSBURG
Several times this season, the Brownstown Central girls basketball team has been hurt by missed free throws in games.
In Friday night’s Mid-Southern Conference game at Scottsburg, that was a huge factor in the Braves’ 56-53 loss.
The Braves made only 20 of 38 from the line, including 7 of 18 in the fourth quarter. The Warriorettes, on the other hand, were 12 for 19 in the fourth quarter and 24 for 36 for the night.
Brownstown was called for 28 fouls, Scottsburg was whistled for 29 and two players fouled out on each team.
“Missed free throws have been our nemesis all year, and we’ve talked about that,” Braves coach Karla Rieckers said. “When you’re in a big game and the game’s on the line like this, you have to make free throws. They made their free throws in the end, and we didn’t.”
Grace Jaynes converted a 3-point play with 1:59 remaining in the fourth quarter to pull the Braves within one point of a tie at 48-47.
Scottsburg scored the next five points to go up 53-47.
Scottsburg held a 56-50 lead when Kirsten Stuckwisch hit a 3-pointer with five seconds remaining to close the difference to 56-53.
A Scottsburg player was called for a travel on the inbounds play, giving the Braves one more chance to tie. But Madison Klinge’s 3-point attempt at the buzzer missed, and the Braves fell to 1-1 in the MSC.
Both teams struggled offensively in the first half, as the Braves shot 4 for 30 from the floor, while Scottsburg was only 6 for 23 during that time.
Scottsburg had 16 turnovers in the first half, and Brownstown committed 13, resulting in a 22-20 lead for the Braves at the break.
“We weren’t attacking the basket in the first half,” Rieckers said. “This is not a typical way we play. We didn’t attack the basket. We didn’t drive. (Paige) Barrett blocked one shot, and we were afraid to attack the basket, and that’s just not typical for us.”
Jaynes topped the Braves (5-2) with 12 points, and Payton Farmer added 10. Morgan Wehmiller and Shelby Stuckwisch topped the Braves in rebounds with eight apiece.
Emma Waskom topped Scottsburg (4-2, 2-1 MSC) with 19 points, including 11 for 13 at the free-throw line. She was 6 for 7 in free throws in the fourth quarter.