BROWNSTOWN— Sometimes, things don’t go as expected. For example, highly anticipated matchups between Top 5 basketball teams that feature dynamic offenses.

The Friday night clash between Class 3A No. 2 Scottsburg and Class 2A No. 3 Brownstown Central promised scoreboard-blowing performances. Instead, the two teams’ intense defenses ruled, forcing a slugfest that ended with the home-standing Braves slowing the pace and ball-controlling their way to a 51-37 victory.

“I thought this would go down to the last possession. I didn’t expect a grind-it-out, points-are-hard-to-come-by game,” BC head coach Dave Benter said. “It was just a different game. The way the defenses played, you had to work a little harder on offense.”

Brownstown held Scottsburg an eye-popping 31 points under its season scoring average. The Warriors’ talented 6-foot-6 guard Jack Miller was limited to just two shots in the second half and 14 points overall.

Brownstown got 19 from its top scorer, Jack Benter, but the offensive end wasn’t exactly friendly to the Braves, either.

BC shot just 23 percent from the floor in the first quarter, including 1-for-10 from 3-point range.

“We were missing open looks, shots that we’re very comfortable taking,” Benter said. “If we make a couple of those early, maybe they have to get out of their plan. We can’t have stretches like that where we don’t score. We got fortunate tonight against a good team, but it might come back to bite us down the road.”

Scottsburg controlled the contest early and built leads as large as six points during the game’s first 12 minutes.

Then Parker Hehman happened.

Brownstown’s senior point guard spurred an 11-0 run to end the first half, first by knocking down two 3-pointers and then with consecutive steals that led to fastbreak buckets.

“I really challenged Parker between the first and second quarters,” Benter said. “He wasn’t being aggressive enough. Once he played more aggressively, the basket got big for him. He played great after that.”

Hehman made a game-high four 3-pointers and ended with 14 points to go along with three rebounds, four assists and three steals.

Up by seven points at halftime, the Braves extended their lead to 31-21 midway through the third quarter on another Hehman 3. Scottsburg’s Kody Clancy tried to pull his team back, scoring 10 second-half points, but the Warriors never seriously threatened.

Seven points from Micah Sheffer and 8-of-10 foul shooting in the fourth quarter helped Brownstown seal the win.

Scottsburg essentially played the game without a substitution. The Warriors’ first sub, Ethan Robison, didn’t enter the game until midway through the third quarter and played only briefly.

Brownstown, meanwhile, substituted early and often and enjoyed key contributions from its bench. Pierson Wheeler made a much-needed 3-pointer in the second quarter, while Adam Stahl grabbed five rebounds and chipped in three points.

The victory gives BC a leg up in what figures to be a three-team race for the Mid-Southern Conference title. The Braves improved to 2-0 in MSC play, while Scottsburg slipped to 3-1. Silver Creek, the other favorite, sits on a 2-0 conference mark.

“Every conference game is big,” Benter said. “On paper, Scottsburg is one of the favorites, so it was good to get this one out of the way.”

For Jack Benter, Friday was a return to action following an injury a week ago at Seymour. Wearing a brace on his right calf, the senior finished as the game’s high scorer on 6-for-14 shooting, including 1-for-5 from 3-point range, and 6-for-6 shooting from the foul line.

“His knee is better, now it’s a calf strain that we’re working on,” the elder Benter said. “Probably what hurt him most was conditioning. But we’ve got a week now to get him back.”

Varsity

Brownstown Central 51, Scottsburg 37

Scottsburg;15;4;8;10;—;37

Brownstown Central;9;17;10;15;—;51

Scottsburg (4-1): Kody Clancy 5 5-6 16, Jack Miller 6 0-0 14, Wyatt Zellers 1 2-2 4, Dare Bowles 1 0-0 3, Caden Richardson 0 0-0 0, Ethan Robison 0 0-0 0, Totals 13 7-8 37.

Brownstown Central (4-1): Jack Benter 6 6-6 19, Parker Hehman 5 0-0 14, Micah Sheffer 2 2-2 7, Colby Hall 2 1-2 5, Pierson Wheeler 1 0-0 3, Adam Stahl 1 1-2 3, Chace Coomer 0 0-0 0, Greg Hutcheson 0 0-0 0, Lane Pendleton 0 0-0 0, Carter Covert 0 0-0 0, Caiden Gwin 0 0-0 0, Totals 17 10-12 51.

3-point goals: Brownstown 7 (Hehman 4, Benter, Sheffer, Wheeler), Scottsburg 4 (Miller 2, Bowles, Clancy).

Rebounds: Brownstown 31 (Hall 8), Scottsburg 21 (Richardson 4).

Turnovers: Brownstown 7, Scottsburg 12.

Fouls: Brownstown 9, Scottsburg 15.

Junior Varsity

Brownstown Central 48, Scottsburg 31

Brownstown Central (4-0): Lane Pendleton 21, Brock Dean 8, Drew Shelton 4, Owen Wischmeier 4, Carter Covert 3, Linkan Brittain 3, Preston Garrison 3, Kylis Brock 2.