JOHN CURTIS - Daily Union Sports Editor
The enigmatic Brownstown Bombers(10-4), who can score big and who can also succumb to stiff defense and score half as much, had one of those games against defensive-minded Neoga on Friday, losing 60-50.
Neoga picked Brownstown 15 times and forced 20 turnovers. They also cashed in at the line, making 15-of-16 attempts. Floor play and free throws tipped the scales in Neoga’s favor. Brownstown shot 44% to Neoga’s 73%, but Neoga still made more filed goals and one more trey. Brownstown out-rebounded the Indians 31 to 22, but it wasn’t enough to get the win.
Jared Winters, Brownstown’s 1000-point scorer, led the Bombers with a near double-double, ten points (1 trey) and nine rebounds. Bryce Mason also scored ten points (1 trey). Conor Riley also had a near double-double, scoring eight points and grabbing ten boards. He also blocked two shots.
However, balanced Neoga had five players in double figures. Dalton Robinson scored 12 points and eight rebounds, including 6-of-6 from the line, and four steals. Bryn Price scored 11 points and had five steals. Zach Blair scored ten points, making 8-of-8 free throws with five boards. Travis Cornell also had ten points and three steals. TJ Roy scored ten points, ringing up two treys.
Brownstown has a chance to rebound with a big win, if they can knock off Stew-Stras in Comet Country on Tuesday.
Varsity
Neoga 50, Brownstown 40
Neoga 6-18-18-18—60
B’town 13-9-14-14—50
B’town stats: Winters 10 (3-2, 1-3 pt FGs, 1/2 FTs), 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal; Mason 10 (3-2s, 1-3 pt FGs, 1/1 FTs), 2 steals; Rigdon 8 (3 FGs, 2/2 FTs), 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal; Riley 8 (4 FGs), 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 2 blocks; Kramer 7 (FG, 5/7 FTs), 2 rebounds, 1 steal; Holloway 5 (2 FGs, 1/4 FTs), 5 rebounds, 2 assists; Stinebring 2 (2/2 FTs), 1 rebound; Coleman-Scott 2 rebounds. Team FGs 18 (2-3 pt: Winters, Mason). Team FTs 12-of-18. Rebounds 31. Assists 9. Steals 6. Blocks 2. Turnovers 20.
Neo stats: Robinson 12 (3 FGs, 6/6 FTs), 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 steals; Price 11 (5 FGs, 1/2 FTs), 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 5 steals; Blair 10 (FG, 8/8 FTs), 5 rebounds; Cornell 10 (5 FGs), 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals; Roy 10 (2-2s, 2-3 pt FGs), 1 rebound, 1 assist, 2 steals; McClellan 4 (2 FGs), 1 rebound, 1 steal; Snively 3 (FG), 2 rebounds. Rebounds 22. Assists 8. Steals 15. Turnovers 14
JV
Neoga 53, Brownstown 43
Neoga 18-6-17-12—53
B’town 10-10-9-14—43
B’town stats: Mason 11, C. Hunter 11, A. Hunter 9, Scott 4, Reeder 3, M. Sefton 3, Garrison 2
Neo stats: McFarland 16, Kline 11, Snively 9, Cole 9, Bright 6, Price 2
