By BRAD BAUGHMAN, for The Democrat
Utilizing a stingy, man-to-man defense and posting 17 third-quarter points, the Brown County Eagles won their home opener 49-40 over a resilient Columbus Christian team Nov. 30.
The Eagles led 11-5 after the first quarter and extended that lead to 24-16 by halftime. Senior forward Aaron McCann scored 10 of his 12 points in the first half to lead the Eagles.
That eight-point halftime lead could have been double digits if the Eagles had been able to convert on four or five close range opportunities.
Brown County started the third quarter with a 10-0 run, and eventually went on to outscore the Crusaders 17-7 in the quarter. “That third quarter there, we were able to go on a run because we cleaned up the glass,” said Coach John Berning.
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]“Our possessions were good team possessions,” he said. “When we had a chance to push, we did. If there was nothing there, we got several reversals and worked the ball and ended up getting some really good looks.”
They were aided by the Crusaders missing all six of their free throw attempts in the quarter.
The Eagles led 41-23 heading into the final frame, and they needed every bit of that lead as Columbus Christian fought back and outscored the home team 17 to 8. Leading the charge for the Crusaders was sophomore Jacob Conrad, scoring eight points in the quarter.
Timely free throw shooting by the Eagles’ senior point guard, Caleb Yager, helped seal the win. Yager went 4-for-4 from the line in the last two minutes.
Conrad and senior Josh Jones, who proved to be a tough defensive assignment for the Eagles, each scored 12 points to lead the Crusaders.
Carter Kelly, sophomore guard, scored a game-high 16 points for the Eagles. Travis Ely scored nine points and Yager finished with eight.
Berning thought the Eagles took better care of the ball in the victory than they did in their season-opening loss to Hauser, limiting their turnovers.
The team Berning calls “a work in progress” seems to be searching for some offensive identity.
“We are going to have the ability to score when we have five guys on the floor consistently reading the floor and making easy plays,” Berning said.
“When we move the ball from side to side, use our dribble as a weapon, and we cut hard and screen bodies, things open up for us.”
Point guard Yager’s comments echoed those of his coach. “I think we need to stop speeding ourselves up, slow ourselves down on offense, and run our plays more effectively.”
Brown County’s next three games will be on the road, beginning with a Dec. 6 date at Eastern Greene. Looking ahead, Berning said, “I think we have got the pieces to be a very competitive team this winter. I really do. But we’ve got a lot to clean up.”
