GEORGETOWN — The Western Brown boys’ basketball team travelled to Georgetown Tuesday night looking to open the second half of conference play on a high note.
A stingy defense and timely free-throw shooting allowed the squad to do just that, as the Broncos left Georgetown with a 62-41 victory over the G-Men.
The first half was a battle. Both offenses were on fire in the first quarter, with Noah Pack and Logan Doss each scoring six points for the G-Men. Western Brown preferred a balanced attack, as six different Broncos had at least one point. Joe Sams had five points in the first quarter to lead the Broncos.
In the second, the defenses took over. Western Brown held Georgetown to just eight points, while Sams scored six of Western Brown’s 11 points to give the Broncos a 27-24 lead at halftime.
Western Brown’s defense was very active in the half, getting several steals and scoring a few transition baskets. That’s exactly what Broncos’ head coach Greg Foster wants to see out of his team, the trick is getting them to be consistent.
“That’s how you’re taught to play,” Foster said. “A lot of times, we’re playing hard but we’re not playing smart. There are times where we’re playing hard but we’re not playing smart. It has to click somewhere.”
The half was arguably the best half of basketball the G-Men had played so far this season, and Foster expected nothing less than Georgetown’s best shot.
“We typically get everyone’s best,” Foster said. “We just have to start giving them our best for two halves.”
Chaiten Tomlin didn’t play at all in the second quarter for the Broncos, but he returned in the third quarter with a vengeance. Tomlin had just one point on a free-throw in the first half, but he scored 11 in the third quarter, including four free-throws. Tomlin had help from Hunter O’hara, who chipped in five points.
Mike Winkler hit two baskets for the G-Men in the third quarter, including a three-pointer, giving him five points in the period. Georgetown as a team would score just four points in the fourth quarter while the Broncos put up 15 points on just two field-goals and 11 free-throws, putting the game well out of reach.
It isn’t too surprising to see a sort of Jekell-and-Hyde act from the Broncos. According to Foster, the team has trouble putting back-to-back solid halves together.
“That’s been our Achilles heel all year,” Foster said. “We can’t put two good halves together. The second half we played well but the first half we played awful.”
Georgetown was led in scoring by Noah Pack, who tallied 12 points. Doss added 10 for the G-Men. Tomlin led the Broncos with 18 points while Joe Sams and Clayton Wolfe each scored 11.
Wolfe didn’t start the game for the Broncos. Western Brown’s bench played very well, and stepped up when the starters weren’t able to get things going.
“If the starters aren’t going to get it done, then someone on the bench is going to have to,” Foster said. “Our bench came up huge tonight. Georgetown played really well.”
Western Brown returns to the court on the road at Goshen Friday, Jan. 22. The G-Men visit Bethel that same night.
— — —
Other scores from around the area:
Southern Buckeye Athletic and Academic Conference
Boys’ Varsity Basketball
Amelia 52, Williamsburg 45
Batavia 57, Bethel-Tate 55
New Richmond 91, Clermont Northeastern 75
Norwood 38, Ross 32
Girls’ Varsity Basketball
Blanchester 51, Fairfield 36
—
Southern Hills Athletic League
Boys’ Varsity Basketball
Fayetteville 46, North Adams 45
West Union 54, Ripley 47
Peebles 59, Manchester 34
