BROWNSTOWN — Red-hot second-half 3-point shooting propelled Brownstown Central’s girls basketball team to a runaway 52-23 win over Columbus East on Tuesday night.

“Red hot” actually understates the Braves’ shooting. Perfect is the more appropriate word. BC made all seven of its 3-pointers in the second half.

The stellar shooting performance turned a back-and-forth contest into a lopsided affair. Brownstown and East traded the lead six times in the first half and were tied five times.

But 3-pointers in quick succession by Kelsey Schneider, Jenna Klosterman, Mallory Klosterman and Addison Darlage in the opening minutes of the third quarter changed the game’s tone, pushing BC in front 31-20.

The Braves never looked back, making 13 of 20 second-half shots (65 percent) while East made just three of its 18 shots (17 percent) during the same stretch.

“We didn’t have much flow in the first half, we couldn’t get into a rhythm,” Brownstown head coach Brandon Allman said. “I always say, good shooting is contagious. Once we got going, it felt like the next shot was going to go in, no matter who was shooting. We haven’t shot the ball that well all year.”

Tuesday’s win pushed Brownstown’s record to 4-0. Columbus East exits with a 2-7 record, but their losses have come against a murderer’s row of tough opponents that includes Class 4A No. 1 Hamilton Southeastern.

The Olympians’ losses have now come against teams with a combined record of 29-9.

“Their schedule is brutal,” Allman said. “You see their record, but everyone they play is a quality opponent. We knew this would be a game of attrition. I thought we were able to wear them down in the second half.”

Brownstown outscored East in the second half 35-8.

After averaging 20 turnovers in their first three games, the Braves committed just 14 on Tuesday night.

Perhaps most encouraging was the balanced scoring. Nine different Braves scored, with five players ending with between seven and 10 points.

Schneider led Brownstown with 10 points, with Darlage and Mallory Klosterman adding eight points each. Harley Toppe and Sophie Wischmeier followed with seven points apiece.

Five different players connected on at least one 3-point attempt, helping BC finish with a season-high eight long shots.

For Brownstown, currently ranked No. 10 in Class 3A, the stellar play is coming at the right time.

“We’re coming into the teeth of our schedule,” Allman said, citing upcoming games with Seymour, Scottsburg, Austin, Corydon and Silver Creek. “Our schedule will continue to get tougher. I’m excited, especially with the volleyball girls having so much success. We’re only up to about nine practices together. We’ve got a couple of days here to practice and put some more stuff in and continue to get better.”

High School Basketball

Brownstown Central; 52

Columbus East; 23

Columbus East; 9;6;7;1;—;23

Brownstown Central; 9;8;16;19;—;52

Columbus East (2-7): Jenna Guse 0 0-0 0, Victoria Cuhadar 0 1-2 1, Madelyn Poe 2 0-2 5, Caroline Frost 1 0-0 2, Messiah Trapp 2 2-2 6, Kenzie Cheek 3 0-0 7, Kimberly Carothers 1 0-0 2, Lola Watkin 0 0-0 0, Brelyn Pool 0 0-0 0, Ella Anthis 0 0-0 0, Totals 9 3-6 23.

Brownstown Central (4-0): Kelsey Schneider 4 0-0 10, Jenna Klosterman 1 1-2 4, Kinzee Dean 0 2-2 2, Sophie Wischmeier 3 1-4 7, Hailey Hobson 2 0-0 4, Mallory Klosterman 3 0-0 8, Harley Toppe 3 0-0 7, Addison Darlage 3 0-0 8, Jada Miller 1 0-0 2, Claire Brock 0 0-0 0, Kassidy Wischmeier 0 0-0 0, Kassie Helton 0 0-0 0, Totals 20 4-8 52.

3-point goals: Columbus East 2, Brownstown Central 8 (Schneider 2, M. Klosterman 2, Darlage 2, J. Klosterman, Toppe).

Rebounds: Columbus East 26, Brownstown Central 29 (S. Wischmeier 7).

Turnovers: Columbus East 16, Brownstown Central 14.

Fouls: Columbus East 11, Brownstown Central 9.

Junior Varsity

Columbus East 36, Brownstown Central 22

Brownstown Central (3-1): Claire Brock 11, Kassidy Wischmeier 7, Brinley Baker 3, Josie Thompson 1.