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Dragons defeat three ranked teams to capture Sectional 30 title
Fans started filling the gym at North Harrison as soon as the doors opened to get the best seat to cheer on their favorite team. The Class 3A No. 7 Braves of Brownstown earned the right to battle for the Sectional 30 championship by defeating the Pirates of Charlestown. The path to the championship for the Dragons of Silver Creek included defeating two ranked teams in Madison (No. 13) and Corydon (No. 6). The teams battled to the very last second giving fans all they could handle. Silver Creek pulled out the 37-36 exciting win to capture the Sectional 30 title. The Dragons celebrated their first Sectional title since 2000.
The Braves of Brownstown opened the scoring with two old-fashioned threes in the first 3:30 of the contest from Jacoby Shade and Austin Snodgrass. Silver Creek’s Gabe Bauer tallied five of his team’s seven points in the same time period. Dragon junior Nick Tinsley drained a three with 27.2 seconds to take the 11-10 lead after the first quarter of play.
Brownstown senior Chaz Schneider drilled a triple to knot the game at 13 at the 5:49 mark of the first half. Silver Creek’s Bauer hit a jumper in the paint to push the Dragons lead to three, 19-16, at the 2:00 mark. Silver Creek held the slight lead, 19-18, heading into the halftime break.
The Braves knotted the ballgame at 21 as Schneider recorded an old-fashioned three point play at the 6:28 mark. Brownstown took the three point lead, 24-21, as Snodgrass drained a triple from the top of the key at the 5:59 mark. Silver Creek senior Zach Davidson hit a jumper at the 1:23 mark to tie the game at 26. Brownstown Central held the slight advantage, 28-26, heading into the final quarter of play.
Silver Creek’s Jake Steele nailed two from the charity stripe at the 5:20 mark to cut the Brownstown lead to one, 31-30. Teammate Bauer hit one from the free throw line to knot the game at 31 at the 3:59 mark. Brownstown pushed the lead to three at the 3:34 mark of the ballgame after a three from Schneider. Teammate Snodgrass recorded a lay in with just 46.3 seconds remaining in the ballgame for the 36-33 Braves lead.
Silver Creek was down by one point with just 16.4 seconds left. The Dragons got the ball inbounds and brought up the court before they worked for the best shot. Silver Creek’s shot went off the rim to the left and was rebounded by Brownstown as the whistle sounded. A foul was called on the Braves. Silver Creek sophomore center Christian Reed stepped to the free throw line. The shot was nothing but net to tie the game at 36 as the Silver Creek faithful roared. A timeout was called by Brownstown head coach Dave Benter. The Dragons gathered around head coach Brandon Hoffman for the time out. Reed came out of the time out and received advice from teammates as he walked back to the free throw line. Reed calmly nailed the second free throw for the 37-36 Dragons lead.
Brownstown had one last chance with 4.1 seconds left in the ballgame. The Braves’ shot fell short as the Dragons celebrated at half court as the sea of blue and orange erupted in celebration of the 2014 Sectional 30 Championship.
Silver Creek (15-8) was led by Gabe Bauer with 10 points while Nick Tinsley added 8 in the Sectional victory.
Brownstown Central (20-3) was led by Austin Snodgrass with 17 points. Chaz Schneider added nine while Jacoby Shade chipped in five points.
Braves fans cheered five seniors for the last time on the court including: Chaz Schneider, Kyle Benter, Austin Snodgrass, Chase Klinge and Drew Shoemaker.
Silver Creek (15-8) will travel to Washington for Regional action this Saturday, March 15. The Dragons will face Class 3A No. 1 Greensburg (24-1) at 10 a.m. The Pirates of Greensburg’s only loss, 89-87 in overtime, came at the hands of the Cubs of Madison on January 24. The second Regional match up will be the Tigers of Evansville Memorial (16-6) and the Jasper Wildcats (14-9). Tip is set for 12 noon.
The Washington Regional championship game will be held at 8 p.m. |
