SCOTTSBURG
Over the past decade, Brownstown Central’s boys basketball team has given Scottsburg all it could handle on the hardwood.
In a Mid-Southern Conference contest Friday at “The Pressure Cooker,” the Braves continued their recent dominance over the Warriors.
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Brownstown won an 11th straight contest over SHS last night, handing the Warriors their first loss of the 2018-19 season by a score of 57-35.
The Braves (3-0, 2-0 MSC) opened the game on an 8-2 run in part of 3-pointers by Ethan Wischmeier and Michael Boshears. The Warriors (3-1, 3-1 MSC) answered with five straight points, but the Braves held on to the lead at 12-9.
In the second quarter, the Braves distanced themselves with their defense. The Warriors scored just two more points, a pair of free throws, before the half.
A basket by Isaac Johnson sparked a 10-0 BCHS run. Wischmeier and Isaiah Wineinger had 3-pointers in that span, which forced SHS to call a time out.
Following free throws by Nicholas Sebastiao, the Braves closed the half on a 6-0 string.
At intermission, the Braves led 28-11.
The Warriors shot just 13.6 percent in the first half from the field to the Braves’ 44 percent.
The Braves continued to dominate out of the break.
Brownstown went on an 11-0 run to start the third quarter, building their lead to 39-11 before the Warriors’ Jimmy Neace hit a 3-pointer with five minutes on the clock.
Going into the final eight minutes, the Braves led 47-20.
While the Warriors got some momentum in the final eight minutes, forcing five Braves turnovers, there wasn’t enough time for a comeback.
The Warriors went on a 10-2 run before both teams emptied their benches with 2:30 left in the game.
“That was by far the best we’ve played offensively and defensively,” Braves coach Dave Benter said. “Our ball movement was outstanding. We were so much sharper offensively. We got the ball inside off the dribble and inside the post. There were several possessions where we moved it around, reversed it, and made the extra pass to turn it from a good shot to a great shot. I thought our defensively energy fueled us on the offensive end.”
Boshears led the Braves with 18 points and Johnson finished with 13.
Hayden Cutter led the Warriors with 9 points.
On the boards, the Braves were outrebounded 36-28. Boshears totaled nine rebounds to lead BCHS.
“(Boshears) has been on the bench a lot the first three games because of foul trouble,” Benter said. “It was good to have him on the floor. He played well. Isaac came in and scored the ball and defended well. He’s a guy that can generate some offense.”
The Braves had 14 turnovers to the Warriors’ 15 giveaways.
Brownstown shot 50 percent in the game, sinking 23 of 46 field goal attempts. They were 36.8 percent from 3-point range.
Scottsburg shot 19.1 percent for the game, making 9 of 47 shots.
The Braves have a quick turnaround, as they host South Ripley tonight.
“We need to come out ready to play. We can’t be satisfied,” Benter said.