AUSTIN
When the iron’s hot, keep striking.
Cam Shoemaker dominated the post, scoring a career-high 26 points in a 63-45 Brownstown Central boys basketball win in a Mid-Southern Conference matchup at Austin on Tuesday.
Shoemaker led the Braves in scoring each quarter and capped the night off with eight points in the final eight minutes of play.
“Early in the game, we turned them over and got rebounds to take a lead early,” Braves coach Dave Benter said. “We told our guys they didn’t have an answer to (Shoemaker) on the inside, get the ball in to him. They did a nice job of getting him the basketball. Early in the season he had foul trouble in several games, but we knew he was capable of that.”
In the first quarter, the Braves and Eagles traded baskets most of the way.
Up 13-8 after the first eight minutes of play, the Braves went on a 12-0 run midway through the second quarter to distance themselves from the Eagles.
Austin’s starters struggled throughout the night, combining for just 26 points. Trevor McIntosh came off the bench to give the Eagles a boost, scoring 11 points before the half.
Following halftime, up 30-20, the Braves outscored the Eagles 17-11.
Shoemaker started the Braves’ scoring in the fourth quarter with an and-one.
The Eagles were able to keep the scoring pretty even in the fourth quarter, but the Braves would finish with 16 to their 14 points.
Neither team had more than two players scoring in double figures.
McIntosh led the Eagles with 14 points, and Matt Johnson added 10.
For the Braves, Jacoby Shade notched 16 points and six rebounds while Shoemaker added his game-best 26 and seven rebounds.
“I just didn’t think we were consistent throughout the night,” Benter said. “There were stretches that went really quick where I thought we should have passed the basketball to get a better shot. The energy level wasn’t where it needed to be at times. We weren’t shooting the ball well, but we can’t let that affect our play.”
With eight games left on the schedule, the Braves look to start peaking as sectional draws closer.
“It’s crucial — you want to be playing your best basketball come sectional time,” Benter said. “We have been a little up and down. We need to get more consistent. Our energy level for 32 minutes has to get better. We go back to the grind tomorrow. We need to continue to fight through and get better.”
On Friday, the Braves (12-2, 41) will host MSC-rival Charlestown.