Boys basketball
Braves earn MSC win
BROWNSTOWN — The Brownstown Central boys’ basketball team remained perfect (6-0) in the Mid-Southern Conference by walking over Charlestown 81-42 in The Pit Friday night.
Head coach Dave Benter did not attend the game because of sickness, so junior varsity coach Michael Leitzman handled the head coaching duties and liked what he saw offensively as the Braves scored in the 80s for the third straight game and sixth time overall this season.
“Offensively, we did a nice job moving the basketball,” he said. “They were giving Jack (Benter) so much attention we were able to find the open guy. He did a great job making the right play, all of us did a great job making the right play.”
The Braves shot 31-for-58 from the floor and had 21 assists.
Charlestown held an early 3-2 lead before Chace Coomer hit back-to-back 3-pointers, and Benter followed with a rebound basket for an 8-0 run and a 10-3 lead.
Parker Hehman then got hot and drilled a pair of 3-pointers, and he was fouled on another 3-point attempt and made all three free throws for nine points in the quarter and a 24-17 lead.
Leitzman said the Braves were lacking on defense in the first period.
“Offense wasn’t the problem early. We scored 24. But defensively, we weren’t getting back with purpose and gave up 17 points,” he said.
The Braves forced the Pirates (8-9, 1-4 MSC) into 10 turnovers in the second and third periods when they held 17-8 and 25-11 scoring advantages
Hehman had two 3-pointers in the second period, Carson Darlage had five points and Colby Hall had two baskets in the period. The Braves closed the half on a 13-0 run.
Coomer added two more 3s in the third, Hehman had a 3 among his seven points, Micah Sheffer and Caiden Gwin added 3s and Darlage scored two baskets inside as the Braves opened the period on an 11-0 run and led 66-36 going into the fourth period.
Leitzman said, “I think the difference in the second, third and fourth quarters was we were able to get back on defense, dig in, keep them out of the paint and we were able to get some stops.”
“I thought we rebounded pretty well. Charlestown is a really good offensive rebounding team. I thought we did a pretty good job of rebounding after getting stops, and that led to our transition offense.”
The Braves held a 34-23 advantage in rebounds with Coomer and Darlage each grabbing eight.
Hehman, who missed six games because of a wrist injury, topped all players with 24 points.
Leitzman said, “Parker had a big game for us. We’re glad he’s back and healthy. He does a great job just leading us out there. Tonight, he got a lot of good looks just the way Charlestown was defending us, and he took advantage of those looks. On top of his 24 points, we had him for six assists. Jack and Parker, our starting guards, combined for 13 assists. You can’t ask for much more than that the way they can score the ball and also pass the ball. They make us a really good basketball team.”
Coomer scored 14, Darlage 11, Hall 10, Benter nine, Sheffer eight, Gwin three and Jakob Arthur two.
Ethan French topped the Pirates with 11.
Pierson Wheeler scored 19 and Lane Pendleton 11 to help the Brownstown junior varsity win 62-43.
The Braves (12-4) will host Corydon tonight for another MSC game.
Highlanders top Owls
The Seymour boys basketball team suffered a 68-56 loss on the road to Floyd Central on Friday night.
The Owls led 15-6 at the end of the first quarter, but the Highlanders used a big second quarter to take a 32-25 lead into halftime.
The deficit stayed seven points at the end of the third quarter, 43-36, before Floyd pulled away in the fourth.
Seymour falls to 4-11 on the season and will next play on Thursday night at home against Madison.
Girls basketball
Medora falls at Dugger Union
The Medora girls basketball lost 56-38 at Dugger Union on Friday night.
Aaralyn Hackney had a big game for the Hornets with 25 points. Jenna Bowers scored 11, and Brelee Underwood had two points.
Before sectional next week, Medora (3-13) will play in the Southern Roads Conference tournament this weekend at Seven Oaks Classical. The Hornets will await the winner of Bloomington Lighthouse and Seven Oaks.