Brownstown Central senior Caiden Gwin puts up a shot during a recent game.
Brownstown’s Parker Hehman brings the ball down the floor with some pressure from Park-Tudor in the semistate semifinal.
Brownstown’s Adam Stahl goes up with the shot for the Braves against Providence on Saturday evening.
Brownstown Central senior Jack Benter shoots a free late in the Braves’ win over Parke Heritage on March 16 in the Southport Semistate.
Parker Hehman says for the Brownstown Central boys’ basketball team having a chance to play for the Class 2A state championship Saturday “is almost a sigh of relief.
“It is unbelievable,” he said. “We have been so close the past two years, losing to the state champions in a game that we did not play well in my sophomore year, then being one game short last year after not playing well.”
Hehman and his fellow seniors, Jack Benter, Caiden Gwin and Adam Stahl are at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis today to practice for the championship game against Wapahani at 12:45 p.m. Saturday.
The Braves take a record of 27-4 and an 18-game winning streak to Indianapolis, while Wapahani is 26-2 and has won 12 in a row since falling to Delta on Jan. 26.
Gwin said he enjoyed being on the floor at the end of the semi-state championship game against Parke Heritage.
“It was a good experience,” he said about cutting down the nets at Southport. “It was good to be able to win here. Last year we got beat here.
“It feels good to beat two good teams. We got away with a good win in the first game (against Park Tudor). We were able to pull that one out (50-49). We struggled a little bit in the second game, but we got the win.
“I’ve had a lot of fun. I’ve made a lot of good memories and we’ve been able to win quite a lot of games.”
He said the state will be a really good experience and he’s hoping the Braves can get a win.
Stahl said Park Tudor played fast paced and the Braves played fast-paced too.
“I’d say we put it to them today,” he said.
Stahl said the key to the 18-game win streak is “bringing it every night.
“Don’t worry about not hitting shots,” he said. “Playing defense is a big thing. Our offense is so good, and we just want to play good defense.”
Stahl also talked about the Braves depth as nine players saw playing time in the first halves of both the Park Tudor and Parke Heritage games.
“We like to give each other breaks because we’ve got enough good players on the bench to give each other breaks,” he said.
Stahl said he enjoys being with his teammates.
“It’s just a great team. I like everyone,” he said. “I think it will be pretty cool to play in the state championship game. It is a big place. We’ve played at Mackey Arena and Assembly Hall. That was pretty cool.
“We’re just going to play another good team Saturday. Hopefully we can come out on top. I’m going to play just like I play on this (Brownstown) court. It’s just like any other game. At the beginning I’ll probably be a little shaky.”
Benter said he is looking forward to going to state.
“It’s something you always dream of as a kid,” he said. “Being able to do that means a lot.”
The Braves were slowed by sickness and injuries at Southport.
“We’ve got to get healthy and just keep working hard and be prepared to go into the game,” he said.
Hehman said he is looking forward to playing at the home of the Indiana Pacers.
“The biggest thing I am looking forward to is, obviously, playing in Gainbridge, but not just to play, but to win,” he said. “Our basketball team has been there twice before, but never won, so for us to go out and win the first state championship for our school would be the world to me and all of my teammates.
“I have never played an actual game there before but have been there many times. It is going to be a day that will stay with everyone involved for the rest of our lives.”
Bethesda Christian (23-7) will play Fort Wayne Canterbury (18-9) in the Class 1A finals at 10:30 a.m. Saturday.
Scottsburg (24-5) will battle South Bend St. Joseph (20-9) for the Class 3A title at 6 p.m., with Ben Davis (23-5) facing Fishers (28-1) at 8:15 p.m. for the Class 4A title.