Brashear Boys Win Third At Brashear Tournament

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By David Sharp

Brashear (12-12) took an early 8-2 lead and paced most of the second half for a 74-69 win over Novinger (10-15) in the boy’s third place game of the 94^th Annual Brashear Tournament.

Carson Erwin scored 35 points, including the 1000^th point of his varsity career around the five minute mark of the second quarter. Wes Findling led all scorers with 37 Wildcat points.

“It was exciting. Carson (Erwin) is a great kid, Tiger coach Shelbi Followill said. “He is a great athlete. He puts in a lot of work in the off season. The kid is only a Junior. He is also humble. He didn’t want his teammate to know how close he was.”

“He wanted to win the game more than anything. He didn’t want his teammates (trying) to get the ball to him so he could score. We called time out to let the fans, his parent and family have their moment. That kid can score inside and outside.”

The game was close throughout. Adrian Peterson scored with 15 seconds remaining in the first quarter for an 18-15 Novinger lead. Bailyn Halley knocked down a Wildcat home run ball for a 39-38 advantage at the half.

Brashear led 55-53 going into the fourth quarter. Wes Findling scored a game tying basket with 4:17 to play. Jace Brownell tied the game at 63 with a field goal at the three minute mark of the final period.

Both sides attacked the rim in the last two minutes. Deyton White hit a big Brashear field goal for a 70-66 lead with a minute to play in the game. Gage Brownell pulled the Wildcats back within a 72-69 deficit with a three at the 28 second mark of regulation time.

Carson Erwin and Lucas Keller made free throws in the final 24 seconds, sealing the 74-69 win. Gage Brownell scored 12 Novinger points. Adrian Peterson put in seven Wildcat points.

“We really worked on our rebounding and defense,” Carson Erwin said. “It was about working hard. It’s a great feeling,” Carson Erwin said when asked his reaction to reaching the 1000 point plateau in his Junior season.

“There’s really nothing like it. It’s just great.”

Cole Erwin backed up Carson Erwin’s 35 point day with 15 Tiger points. Lucas Keller scored nine points. Keller made the boy’s All Tournament team. Jack Reeves put in eight points.

Brashear sank eight three balls to six for Novinger. The Wildcats sank 17 of 20 free throws in a hard fought game. Brashear was 18-37 from the charity stripe. Novinger held a 17-16 field goal edge.

“All the credit to those kids,” Brashear coach Shelbi Followwill. “Basketball is a game of runs. I was very proud of the way my kids responded when they did go on runs. We didn’t succumb to the pressure.”

“We kept our composure, took care of the basketball for the most part. That was a part we definitely wanted to improve on,” Coach Followwill said. “The game with the Knights, we had some turnovers late in the game that cost us.”

“Overall, we were much improved. I was a little worried at the start. We just weren’t in synch,” Shelbi Followwill said. “They figured it out, worked together. We got through some things. We came out and took care of the ball in the second half and just took it at them.”

Brashear plays Novinger in their conference game this week. The Tigers and Wildcats are also members of the La Plata Class 1 district. “We have been playing our best basketball of late,” Followwill said.

“That district seed meeting this morning was rough. Novinger was selected for the third seed and Brashear fourth. “I truly backed my kids. I felt like we truly deserved the three. If that game doesn’t prove that, I don’t know what does.”