By Frank Bonner II
For The Tribune

HOPE

Brownstown Central played with some stingy defense in Thursday’s girls basketball game at Hauser.

The Braves allowed only four points in the first quarter, and a buzzer-beating 3-pointer was the only second-quarter bucket for the Jets. Brownstown forced 19 turnovers in its 42-22 route.

“I was pleased with how we started the game,” Brownstown coach Karla Rieckers said. “I thought we did a great job in the first half defensively, and then I thought in the second half, we got a little bit lazy.”

The Braves (15-6) ended the first half on a 12-3 run to gain a 23-7 halftime lead. Ashley Schroer and Halle Hehman scored 21 of their first-half points and ended the game with a combined 27 points. Schroer had 14 points and eight rebounds, while Hehman added 13 points.

Rieckers said multiple players can score for the Braves on any given night, and it just happened to be Schroer and Hehman this time.

“They are both kids who have scored for us all year,” Rieckers said. “… It’s kind of like, what the other team is going to give us and who’s going to step up for us. We just read what the defense gives us, and those players step up.”

Hauser coach Brad Hamilton said his team did a good job following the scouting report, which highlighted the Braves’ 3-point shooting capability. Brownstown finished with only two 3-point shots but took advantage of the Jets on the inside.

The Braves also took advantage of their limited free-throw shooting opportunities, hitting 4 of 5 from the line.

Madison Klinge recorded seven points for Brownstown, and Payton Farmer led the bench with six.

“We’d like to see everybody scoring (well) on the same night,” Rieckers said. “That’s the ultimate goal. By the time we get to sectional, hopefully we can do that.”