INDIANAPOLIS — The Brownstown Central Braves won their first boys basketball state championship after defeating the sentimental favorite Wapahani Raiders 55-36 Saturday afternoon.
Wapahani entered the game boasting a 26-2 record while having a large amount of fan support following March 14 severe storms that devastated the town of Selma, near where the school is located.
Brownstown Central arrived at Gainbridge Fieldhouse after posting a 27-4 record and hungry to avenge last year's loss to Linton-Stockton at semi-state.
From the moment of tip-off to the final whistle, the Braves looked to be in control. Brownstown Central went on a 12-3 run in the first quarter, putting added pressure on the Raiders to keep up. Senior guard Jack Benter scored eight first quarter points for the Braves while junior guard Chace Coomer added six.
Brownstown Central held Wapahani to just 14 first half points. Senior guard Isaac Andrews was responsible for 10 of those points while junior guard Nate Luce and sophomore guard Eli Andrews each added a duce.
The Raiders started the second half on a 13-3 run, but still trailed by ten points as the buzzer sounded to end the third quarter. Isaac Andrews again led Wapahani in scoring with seven third quarter points. The Raiders' defense held Jack Benter to just five points in the third.
As the fourth quarter began, Wapahani was running out of time to complete their historic state finals run. Isaac Andrews was held to just four points in the final quarter, with only senior forward Nick Cook and guard Eli Andrews scoring one basket each.
Brownstown Central finished on a 17-8 run to defeat Wapahani 55-36 for their first boys basketball championship in school history.
Jack Benter led the Braves in scoring with 25 points. Chace Cooomer added 13 and sophomore guard Micah Sheffer had 11. Isaac Andrews scored 21 of the Raiders' 36 points. Eli Andrews added 7 while Nate Luce finished with 4 points.
Wapahani's Isaac Andrews was awarded the Mental Attitude Award.
BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL 55, WAPAHANI 36
BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL (28-4) — Colby Hall 2-3 0-0 4, Parker Hehman 0-5 2-2 2, Jack Benter 9-18 5-5 25, Micah Sheffer 4-5 1-2 11, Chace Coomer 5-9 0-0 13, Pierson Wheeler 0-1 0-0 0, Adam Stahl 0-0 0-0 0, Gregory Hutcheson 0-0 0-0 0, Caiden Gwin 0-0 0-0 0, Lane Pendleton 0-0 0-0 0, Owen Wischmeier 0-0 0-0 0, Carter Covert 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 20-41 8-9 55.
WAPAHANI (26-3) — Nick Cook 1-3 0-0 2, Mason Barton 0-0 0-0 0, Nate Luce 2-5 0-0 4, Isaac Andrews 8-20 1-2 21, Camden Bell 1-7 0-0 2, Eli Andrews 3-8 0-0 7, Logan Wulff 0-0 0-0 0, Brock Zickgraf 0-0 0-0 0, Layton Spence 0-0 0-0 0, Caleb Lewis 0-0 0-0 0, Hunter Rodeffer 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 15-43 1-2 36.
3-Point Goals—Brownstown Central 7-20 (Coomer 3-7, Sheffer 2-3, Benter 2-4, Hehman 0-5, Wheeler 0-1). Wapahani 5-28 (I. Andrews 4-12, E. Andrews 1-6, Bell 0-5, Luce 0-3, Cook 0-2). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Brownstown Central 23 (Benter 6, Sheffer 6). Wapahani 25 (Cook 9). Assists—Brownstown Central 13 (Hehman 8). Wapahani 7 (I. Andrews 4). Total Fouls—Brownstown Central 7, Wapahani 11.