March 7, 2025
Brownstown- 63 Charlestown- 59
This was a rematch that I’d hope would happen when the draw came out. There were so many good games across the state tonight but these two teams going against each other was too good to pass up. The two teams met up earlier in the year at Brownstown in a game I also attended and the Braves took the 3 point win in a hard fought game. In the first matchup Brownstown senior big Colby Hall really played well and was a difference maker. Pirate junior Anthony Fresh (as usually is the case) had himself a big game that night as well. Charlestown has been close all year v. teams like Silver Creek, New Albany, and Brownstown but just haven’t been able to get over the hump. Everyone starts the postseason 0-0 and a brand new season started this past Tuesday night.
Brownstown got themselves going early establishing Hall down low and playing through him. When teams double Hall, he’s such a good and willing passer to a team full of good outside shooters that the Braves will either make you pay with the easy 2 from Hall or an outside 3. The Pirates chose to double Hall from the beginning, which got junior Lane Pendleton going, as well as senior Chace Coomer. Brownstown jumped out quick on them until Anthony Fresh got himself going, and once he did, he didn’t cool down all game. The 6’3 junior all star candidate splashed in the first three. Then a quick crossover dribble shoot from distance went down. All of a sudden, the score after one quarter was Brownstown 13, and Fresh with 9. It seems like every time the Pirate got close the Braves would spread it back out to a 6 or 7 point lead. Brownstown seemed content to let anyone else other than Fresh shoot. Pirate senior Demetrius Phelps got one to fall from distance which was big. Junior Keevin Bowman was also left alone but he finally found a grove offensively as the game got going. Brownstown junior Micah Sheffer is known as a lockdown defender, at least the times I’ve seen him play he’s usually put on the opposing team’s top offensive weapon. Charlestown used numerous screens to get Fresh the ball and get him open. With the clock winding down in the half the Pirates made a mini run helped by a 3 pointer to tie the game up at 24 all.
Not to be outdone in the 1st half, Chace Coomer had himself a game with 18 points to Fresh’s 17 up to that point. Coomer was getting hot from 3 and getting to the line where he’s an excellent free throw shooter. There were times that Brownstown’s hustle and muscle down low resulted in an extra possession or two for the Braves that really ended up being big in this game. Sheffer, Pendleton, and Hall are tough kids underneath and it resulted in Braves second chance points. Pirates Grason Connell and AJ Todd did work on the inside battling Hall and Phelps brought alot of energy defensively and on the glass; it’s just Brownstown is such a big and strong team that it makes it tough for anyone. In the 3rd it was another good start for Brownstown and a quick timeout for Charlestown. Then, like in the 1st half, Anthony Fresh happened. It was one of those nights for him that I’ve seen him have before, he was just unconscious from the outside. Just about everything he threw up went in and the Pirates were right back in the game down 4 going into the fourth. The Pirates fought and clawed their way back from being down by 6 or 7 in the last few minutes by going into a press and trapping Brownstown’s guards. Once Coomer fouled out with 2 or 3 minutes left on the clock, the game became a coin flip. Coomer finished with a team- high 27 points and when he fouled out was hoping this wouldn’t be the last time wearing a Brave uniform. Brownstown got some key baskets by Pendleton and Sheffer late in the game. Fresh kept his foot on the gas pedal and Bowman got a big steal and 2. The lead was just 2 when the Braves inbounded the ball and took about 7 or 8 seconds off the clock while Charlestown was trying to press before Benter smartly called a timeout. With the game clock getting low the Pirates were forced to foul Micah Sheffer who calmly sank 2 free throws that gave Brownstown a 4 point cushion. After Charlestown couldn’t get the ball in Fresh’s hands a desperation three was attempted but fell off the mark. The Braves rebounded the ball and the game was over. Brownstown earned a hard fought win again over the Pirates, this time when it really counted and move onto a Saturday night showdown with Silver Creek. Charlestown ends their season 18-6 with lots of optimism going into next year. A free throw miss that goes in or a second chance rebound that Brownstown scored on goes another way, the Pirates may be moving on. It’s a few little things that end up being the difference maker against good teams in March. Kudos to all the fans from both squads as well. It really was a great atmosphere at a really cool Charlestown gym.
I’ve thought all year that Charlestown was just one ‘big’ away from being really good and a state contender. They were on the wrong side of so many close games this year that you have to figure with the returning players they have coming back that next year they’ll win those games down the stretch. The Pirates have two seniors, Phelps and Connell, but return 4 starters next year (Fresh, Odle, Bowman, and Todd). It’s way to early to tell but Charlestown is looking like they’ll come into next year hovering around that top 5 in 3A. T If you haven’t seen Fresh play I suggest you make a trip to Charlestown next season. I’ve seen alot of the better juniors in the state and he 100% deserves and has earned a spot on the junior all star team. There were hints of it seeing him this summer but I wanted to see him do it consistently and in big games. Throughout the year he has shown he can take over at times whether it’s from deep, or getting to the basket using his quickness. I absolutely expect him to make one of the junior all star teams when they’re announced in the coming weeks and going into next year as a legit Indiana all star candidate.
The Colby- Chace duo has been fun to watch for a long time. They’ve always been a tough matchup and wherever one is, the other is usually there also. There’s not many better inside- outside combos in all of Indiana. Coomer is a knockdown 3 point shooter who is learning to be a lead guard and ball handler while Colby has been doing what he’s done ever since I’ve known him; dominate the paint. Hall has become a very reliable outside shooter this year when left open. Coach Benter picked up his 499th win tonight and one more will put him into some rare company in the state of Indiana. There’s not many out there that have run a consistently good program like Dave Benter has at Brownstown for 20+ years. They never really rebuild; it’s more of a reload year in and out. Going 22-2 after losing your school’s best all time player (Jack Benter) and one of their all time leaders at point guard (Parker Hehman) says all you need to know about the Brownstown basketball program and Coach Benter.
Braves scoring;
Sr. Chace Coomer- 27 pts
Sr. Colby Hall- 11 pts
Jr. Micah Sheffer- 14 pts
Jr. Lane Pendleton- 9 pts
Pirates scoring;
Jr. Anthony Fresh- 35 pts
Jr. Keevin Bowman- 13 pts
Sr. Demetrius Phelps- 4 pts
Sr. Grason Connell- 5 pts
