Coach Dave Benter said Isaiah Wineinger meant a lot to the Brownstown Central boys basketball team this past winter.
“Isaiah was the one that came back with experience this year,” Benter said. “He has kind of been our rock all year. He has been up and down at times, but we’ve known from Day 1 what we were going to get from him.”
What the Braves got from Wineinger was someone who led the team in scoring, was the best free throw shooter and led the squad in steals and assists and in a sterling all-around performance.
Benter recently announced Wineinger, a senior, as the Braves’ most valuable player for the past season, during which the Braves finished 11-15. He also received the team awards for being the top assists man (128) and free throw shooter (63 for 84).
Wineinger scored 322 points for an average of 12.4 points per game with high performances of 28 against Rushville and 24 against Trinity Lutheran. He was the Braves’ leading scorer in 12 games and tied for leading scorer in one other game. He also had team-highs in 3-point field goals (27) and steals (37).
Wineinger was chosen for the all-Mid-Southern Conference team and was named a Hoosier Basketball Coaches Association all-star.
Other players also were recognized for the 2019-20. Senior Clayton Barger received the mental attitude award, and sophomore Aidan Schroer was named best defensive player.
Playing both sides of the ball well, Schroer also received the field goal shooting award for making 84 of 145 from the floor, and he earned the rebound plaque for grabbing 146 missed shots.
Wineinger, senior Clay Chastain and Schroer were named to The Tribune’s all-county team.
Benter said the team effort for the season went beyond the court.
“The BC boys basketball coaching staff would like to extend its appreciation and gratitude to the team’s players, managers, support staff, parents, administration, cheerleaders and loyal fans,” Benter said. “A program only consistently sustains its success at a high level with those assisting behind the scenes.”
Benter said the coaches had a general idea what to expect going into the season.
“As a coaching staff, we realized that we had little varsity experience returning for the 2019-20 season and that the season would be a process of improvements and adjustments,” he said. “At the first practice, the staff stressed to the players that the team’s season goal was to be playing its best basketball by the end of the season.”
Growing pains showed early.
“The season’s midpoint record (2-9) did not necessarily reflect a jump in improvement many of the players had made,” Benter said. “Continuing to persevere and block out the negative, the varsity team won nine of its last 14 games.”
The Braves were 3-6 in the Mid-Southern Conference but won their last four games.
The highlight was capturing the Edgewood Sectional with wins over South Vermillion and Brown County and beating Edgewood 46-45 in the championship game.
However, the Braves did not get a chance to play in the Greencastle Regional because of stay-at-home restrictions ordered due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This team should be commended and remembered for its determination and improvement, which resulted in the 2020 sectional championship,” Benter said.
The junior varsity team was 17-3, and sophomore Ethan Davis was named the most improved JV player. Sophomore Kiernan Tiemeyer received the JV free throw award.
The freshman team was 11-3.
Senior Klarissa Wilburn received the cheerleader mental attitude award, and sophomores Rebecca Edwards and Frankie Rohr received basketball manager jackets.
Seniors on the basketball team were Barger, Eli Brown, Chastain, Derek Thompson, Jalen Tiemeyer and Wineinger.
Benter thanked the seniors and wished them well in the future.
“To the underclassmen, even though we are currently in uncharted territory, we need a dedicated effort from you to improve individual skills and understanding in order to use last season’s ending success as a springboard into the future,” he said.