The BRLD Boys Basketball Team won 48-43 over Oakland-Craig in the C2-3 Sub-District Final from West Point-Beemer on Thursday, February 22nd before winning 40-38 over Battle Creek in the C2-2 District Final at Wayne State College last Monday night.
It came down to a deciding possession late in the 4th quarter of the Oakland-Craig game.
Down 46-43 with 7.8 seconds left, the Knights' Robby Mayberry was dribbling down court, and tried to get the ball to All-State Player Garrett Seagren for a game-tying three pointer, but Mayberry crossed half court and threw it behind to Seagren, who was trailing the play, but couldn't quite make it across halfcourt with the ball after catching it, thus the game deciding turnover.
Oakland-Craig made a furious rally late as Seagren canned three 3's after BRLD went up 45-34 with less than a minute to go.
The Knights led early, 6-5 after one, and 17-15 at halftime after winning the 2nd quarter 11-10.
The Wolverines put together a big 3rd quarter though, doubling up Oakland-Craig 18-9 to go up 33-26 at the end of three.
The Knights won the 4th quarter 17-15.
Kenyan Lovejoy led BRLD with 16 points, including 7 in the 2nd quarter, while Darwin Snyder scored 13. Will Gatzemeyer added 10.
Meyer says his team has a lot of offensive weapons. "The thing I like about our team is I don't have just one person that's going to standout. I've got 2, 3, 4, 5 guys that can all step up and score double digits in a game. And we just play good team basketball, and I'm really enjoying this year just watching them play."
Meyer adds Oakland-Craig was underrated. "Aaron always has his team ready. They're a great team. They're a lot better than what that record shows because to start the season off they didn't have Garrett to start off with, and they should be a Division I if not ranked in C-2. And there's no doubt in my mind. And trying to beat them twice is tough to do, and we did that tonight."
The Braves got out to a 15-5 lead after one, and outscored the Wolverines 13-8 in the 2nd quarter to take a 28-13 lead into the locker room.
BRLD trimmed the deficit to 7 at 33-26 at the end of three by winning the 3rd quarter 13-5.
The Wolverines outscored Battle Creek 14-5 in the 4th quarter.
Lovejoy had a team-high 12 points for BRLD while Snyder scored 8.
Meyer says the game was a tale of two halfs. "First half our shots were just uncharacteristic of us. We just weren't taking the shots that we normally take. I don't know it's just the shots weren't falling, No. 1, but the shots just weren't good quality shots I guess I should say. Really good high percentage shots that we were taking. And just think it just got away from us...and Battle Creek...they were hitting their shots, and they were getting confident. And that just snowballed on us. And all of a sudden the most we were down by was 17, and down by 15 at half, and it's tough to comeback and do that. But thank God for halftimes. And so we just settled the players down. They just needed to reverse the ball and move the ball better than what they were doing, and play better defense. Defensively, it was just okay in the first half, it picked up a lot better the second half, and that was the difference in the game, they just needed to settle down."
BRLD (24-2) takes on Elmwood-Murdock (19-4) in the first round of State at Lincoln Southeast at 8:45 p.m. Thursday night in action that can be heard on 107.9 the Bull.
The Knights lost 48-44 to Yutan in the C2-2 Sub-District Final at Wahoo on Thursday, February 22nd, but qualified for state for the 3rd straight year with a wildcard.
Meyer says Elmwood-Murdock poses a matchup problem from a height standpoint. "Our tallest is 6'3, and it's going to be tough to matchup with their 6'6 Wes Dreamer. He's going to be one heck of a matchup for us. And we're going to have to try and do our best, and just see if we can try to contain him."
Meyer says that's the only matchup that concerns him, saying he thinks everyone else will be alright.
He discusses the keys to the game for the Wolverines. "Well we've got to be able to rebound. And we've got to be able to run the floor. We've got to play good defense. We've got to make sure we limit Wes Dreamer. Limit him, his touches with the ball. So we've got to be able to run our offense too, and not do the same thing we did against Battle Creek."
Meyer adds this year's C-2 field is loaded. "There's a lot of talent, and I've always said that. We've beaten 3 ranked C-1 teams this year. I think C-2 is the class that's just got a lot to offer. And there's just no weak teams in it. And it's going to be tough, and it's going to be anybody's ball game."
BRLD is making their first ever state tournament appearance as a Co-op. Bancroft-Rosalie most recently made the state tournament in 2015, finishing runner-up in Class D-2 that year. Lyons-Decatur Northeast last made it in 1994.
This is going to be a tough game and matchup for the Wolverines no doubt, but BRLD can definitely win.
Whoever wins this game figures to have their work cut out in the semifinals against either Ponca or Perkins County.
The Wolverines have to start off a lot better than they did against Battle Creek if they want to win Thursday, in my opinion.
BRLD has to work the ball around the court for good shots and open looks, and not settle.
I think State Tournament experience helps the Wolverines in the case of the former Bancroft-Rosalie players who played in the tournament in 2015, but the Knights have plenty of state tournament experience too so you know they will be ready.
This figures to be a great game that comes down to the wire, and it wouldn't surprise me one bit if BRLD came out with the victory.
The path to championship Saturday is very difficult it appears, and the Wolverines will have earned a State Championship Game berth if they get it.
Anything can happen though, and BRLD can definitely walk away from this tournament as State Champs.
Thursday night's game from Lincoln Southeast can be heard on the Bull beginning at 8:45 p.m.
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