By David Sharp
Third seeded Brashear (16-13) came into their February 22, 2023 District 11 at La Plata boy’s semifinal contest with a plan. The Tigers attempted to limit the effectiveness of senior sniper JD Rich. The Tigers forged a 12 point halftime lead and made it stand up for a 67-62 win over North Shelby (16-13).
Brashear shot the ball well in the first half. The Tigers took a 17-1 first quarter lead. Brashear outscored North Shelby 19-13 in the second period for a 36-24 lead at intermission.
“We had a different defensive game plan going into that game,” Brashear coach Shelbi Followwill said. “We know who their shooter was. It was a make the other kids beat us game plan.”
“My kids have got a lot of fire. They are locked in mentally. They are bought into the fact that we are a good basketball team,” Shelbi Followwill said. “I feel like we haven’t got that much credit during the season. This is to be expected when our record is mediocre. At .500 pretty much the whole season.”
“We have won five or six games in a row and don’t plan on stopping anytime soon.”
North Shelby had the capability for more than one player to score. The Raiders fired back with an 18-12 third quarter burst to a 48-42 Tiger edge after three periods.
Both teams shot free throws well. Brashear sank free throws, staying close enough to win the game by the 67-62 margin.
Jade Daniel and Brendyn McDaniel fired in 19 Raider points each. JD Rich scored 11 points in the final basketball game of a great high school spots career.
Seniors JD Rich, Brendyn McDaniel, Clay Cook, Keaton Roan, Jeremiah Pratt, Casey Shockley and Brayton Cook played their final basketball game for North Shelby.
Cole Browning scored nine Raider points. Carson Erwin fired in a game high 31 Brashear points. Lucas Keller scored 17 points. Cole Erwin was in double figures with ten points.
Jack Reeves scored seven Tiger points. Avery Zentz added two Brashear points.
