The clock struck midnight for the Brandon varsity girls basketball team ? but not before the Blackhawks fought until the very end.
In the opening round of district action Nov. 14 at Brandon, Waterford Kettering held off the Blackhawks for a 30-28 win. With the win, the Captains advanced to play Oxford Nov. 16, while Brandon’s season ended with a record of 14-7.
Junior center Savannah Stedman and sophomore guard Mikki Nuccio each led the Blackhawks with eight points, while Kettering senior center Amanda Taylor led the Captains with eight points.
The Blackhawks had an opportunity to win the game at the end when Stedman was fouled by Taylor while attempting a three-point shot with 0.2 seconds left in the fourth period and the Captains up 30-27.
However, Stedman missed the first of her three foul shots, effectively ending the Blackhawks? hopes. Stedman made the second free throw shot but missed the third, and time ran out.
The Blackhawks got off to a blazing start in the game, leading 11-2 at one point in the first period before the Captains closed the gap to 11-6 at the end of the period.
Kettering then slowly but surely made their way back, pressuring the Blackhawks into several turnovers which led to baskets on the other end. The Captains took a 15-14 lead with about 1-1/2 minutes left in the second period, and took an 18-14 lead at halftime.
Brandon coach Bryan Ray said the Captains? depth made the difference in their comeback and eventual win.
‘They have kids off the bench that are equal in size to our starters,? he said.
Hampering the Blackhawks? depth was the fact Brandon was playing without 6?1? senior Rebekah Schroll, a valuable reserve for the Blackhawks, who was injured in Brandon’s Nov. 3 game against Imlay City.
Brandon then ran into a roadblock when Stedman picked up her third foul just nine seconds into the third period. The Captains made both foul shots to take a 20-14 lead.
Ray said Stedman, who collected four fouls in the game, was not used to playing under those circumstances, and it affected her aggressiveness at both ends of the court.
‘Without a doubt, it affected her offensively and defensively,? he said. ‘She hasn’t had three fouls called on her all year.?
The Captains had a five-point lead after the third quarter, 24-19, but the Blackhawks slowly came back, and Nuccio hit a bank shot with about six minutes left in the fourth quarter, prompting Kettering coach Lisa Cox to call time-out.
Brandon took the lead with 4:34 remaining as Nuccio hit another bank shot to put the Blackhawks up 25-24. However, Taylor responded immediately for the Captains with a basket to put Kettering up 26-25, and the Captians never trailed after that.
After the game, Ray said the Blackhawks can be proud of what they accomplished this season.
‘They left it all on the line,? he said. ‘I never questioned their work ethic or their attitude. As far as I’m concerned, the season was a success.?
The Blackhawks had a chance to clinch a share of the Flint Metro League championship Nov. 10, but visiting Lapeer West dashed those dreams with a 40-25 victory.
The Panthers ended the Flint Metro League season tied with Fenton for the league crown, with each team finishing 11-3 in league play. The Blackhawks ended in a third-place tie with Linden, with each team finishing 9-5 in the league.
Going into the game, the Blackhawks had to defeat the Panthers and Clio had to upset Fenton in order for the Blackhawks to win their share of the league crown.
However, Fenton upset any Blackhawk hopes by defeating Clio, and Lapeer West used a strong second half to put away the Blackhawks.
Stedman led the Blackhawks with 15 points, while senior guard Mariah Andre added six points.
The end of the Blackhawks? year also meant the end of the varsity careers of five Brandon seniors: Schroll, Andre, guard Emma Donnay, and forwards Jessica Liebner and Brooke Schaefer.
Ray said those five players were a valuable part of the Blackhawks? success this season.
‘They’re phenomenal leaders,? he said. ‘Those are the type of kids you want as your daughters. They’re the best group of seniors I’ve ever been blessed to coach.?