(Park Hills, MO) The Potosi Trojans stun the Central Rebels with dual scoring threats of Carter Whitley and Gabe Brawley. The duo contributed 56 of the Trojans’ points in the 82-71 win at the TJ Foulon Fieldhouse Friday night.
Whitley paced all scorers in the contest with 32 points, while Brawley added 24 points despite missing the start of the 4th quarter.
The first quarter was a different story than the rest of the game. Central exploded for double digit lead halfway through the opening frame. A pressuring high-low game led to open lay ins by Braydon Berry who made his first 4 field goals at the rim.
Whitley, and Brawley willed their team back into the battle with key 3-point shots, dribble-drive layups, and perfect trips to the foul line. Potosi, as a team, hit 17-of-19 free throws in the victory.
By the end of the first, Central clung to a lead 22-21 after layup, and-1 was converted by Jobe Bryant, who contributed a team leading 29 points in the loss. Bryant was 15/17 from the courtesy strip, but an uncharacteristic 7-for-24 from the field, and 0-for-6 from beyond the arc.
Potosi continued the pressure to start the 2nd quarter when Brawley used an open lane to the basket and finished on a contested lay-in to give the Trojans their first lead of the game 27-25, 2 minutes and 41 seconds into the frame.
After a tie at 27-27, Potosi would pull away again, but Central would keep it within reach. Caden Casey, and the Rebels would draw even after a steal and layup marked the final tie of the game, 34-34, with 2 minutes and 35 seconds left in the first half.
Luke Brabham gave the Trojans separation by hitting 3 straight down low before recess. Brabham concluded the game with 12 points as the third and final Potosi scorer in double-digits. He contributed a game-leading 8 rebounds as well.
Potosi closed out the first half 42-39.
Neither side made a bucket a minute and 51 seconds into the third quarter, until Whitley drained a 30-footer from the right wing extending the lead. It would be his lone 3-point shot to fall in the second half.
30 seconds later, the Rebels countered with a Bryant floater on his fourth attempt of the half. Berry cashed in after a steal to make it a one possession game halfway through the third, 45-43. Central would never get this close again after an 8-nothing run by the Trojans extended the advantage to 53-43.
Brawley missed the final 43 seconds of the third quarter, and the first 2:05 of the fourth after diving to try and keep possession of a loose ball. As he dove, Brawley took out Caden Casey’s legs. Casey tumbled onto the back of Brawley, who slammed his upper torso and head off the floor.
Brawley was taken to the locker room but returned in the fourth to finish off a perfect night from the foul-line. He and Whitley each hit 8-of-8 free throws.
Kanaan Wilson added salt to the wound by making six straight free throws while Potosi was in the bonus late in the fourth.
Casey totaled 15 points for the Rebels, and Brayden Berry had 14 in the loss.
The Trojans improve to 10-3 overall by winning the Large School Conference opener. It’s the first time Potosi has beaten Central since February 3, 2015.
Central falls to 11-2 and have their 10-game win streak snapped.
Potosi sits atop the MAAA Large School Division with Farmington and Ste. Genevieve who won their league games Friday night. The Knights topped Fredericktown 69-43, while the Dragons held off North County to win 58-51.
The Trojans host Union on Wednesday, then Fredericktown Friday, while the Rebels battle take a 2-game road trip to MICDS on Tuesday, and Ste. Genevieve on Friday.