Two transfer students from Pontiac Central made their season debut for Brandon’s varsity basketball team Jan. 18.
However, despite the efforts of junior Donald Carter and sophomore Adrian Harges, the Blackhawks could not get past the host Oxford Wildcats, losing a 50-42 contest.
With the loss, Brandon fell to 1-8 overall and 1-3 in the Flint Metro, while Oxford improved to 1-8 and 1-3.
The game started off at a low-scoring pace on both ends, but the Brandon fans in attendance at Oxford came to life when Carter and Harges entered the game about midway through the first period.
Fittingly, it was Harges that got Brandon on the scoreboard with their first field goal of the game. Senior Brandon Olejnik scored the Blackhawks? other basket of the first, and Brandon trailed 8-4 at the end of the period.
The Blackhawks hung with the Wildcats throughout the second quarter ? Oxford maintained a four-point lead, 19-15, at halftime ? but could not get past them.
Brandon coach Tim Donnan said his Oxford counterpart, Steve Laidlow, did a good job of getting the Wildcats in a position to win.
‘They played a 1-3-1 zone against us,? Donnan said. ‘It was the first time we’ve seen it all year, and we had a hard time against it. The officials called the game tight. We got in foul trouble and away from our physical advantage. It’s a game we should have won but didn’t have the necessary intensity.?
The victorious Wildcats had three players in double figures: senior Dave Wendt with 14, senior Mark Willar with 12, and junior Bill Keenist with 10.
Meanwhile, Brandon junior center Andrew Koenig led the Blackhawks with 11 points, while Carter just missed out on a double-double in his first Brandon game, finishing with 10 points and nine rebounds. Harges finished with four points in his Brandon debut.
Donnan said both Carter and Harges should make a positive impact on the Blackhawks as the season progresses.
‘They’ve been two of our most consistent, hardest-working players in practice,? he said. ‘D.C. (Carter) was one rebound away from a double-double, and Adrian did a good job at the point and got us in our offense. They both played well for us. I expect them to be a large part of what we’re trying to do here.?