The players on Brandon’s varsity basketball team headed into their final exams feeling good about themselves.
On Tuesday, Dec. 10, the day before exams started, the Blackhawks soundly defeated visiting Fenton 60-41 in Flint Metro League action. The Blackhawks remained undefeated at 5-0 and 2-0 in league action, while Fenton fell to 2-5 overall and 1-1 in the league.
The Blackhawks are currently tied for the league lead with Oxford, the only other team in the Flint Metro at 2-0.
Brandon took on the Tigers without starting senior Donald Carter, who sat out the game for disciplinary reasons, according to Brandon coach Tim Donnan. Carter will be back in the lineup for the Blackhawks? scheduled game Friday, Jan. 13 at Lapeer East.
Donnan said it was a credit to the guys on the team that the Blackhawks were able to compensate for Carter’s absence.
‘We’re pretty much a solid team,? he said. ‘Guys stepped up and played some more minutes and we were fine. It’s amazing when you lose a player of D.C.’s caliber, you can go through a whole game and do well.?
After the two teams started off slowly, the Blackhawks showed they meant business, pressuring the Tigers into several turnovers on defense as they took a 15-4 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Despite their best efforts, the deficit proved to be one the Tigers could not dig their way out of. Brandon held a 25-12 lead at halftime and a 43-26 lead at the end of the third quarter.
Brandon’s Gary Glasby continued his hot shooting from long distance, connecting on three three-point shots on his way to a team-leading 17 points. Adrain Harges added 15 points and eight assists, while Adam Howard contributed nine points and 10 rebounds.
Fenton’s Kyle Hamilton scored 16 points in a losing cause.
Donnan said Brandon’s final exam schedule did not have any real impact on the team’s preparation for the game against the Tigers.
‘Our starting lineup was scrambled a little bit, but we’re going to do what we’re going to do, and Fenton’s going to do what they’re going to do,? he said.
Powered by Glasby’s hot shooting, the Blackhawks soundly defeated Holly 65-42 in a Dec. 6 Flint Metro League game. The Bronchos fell to 0-6 with the loss.
Glasby, a senior guard, scored 23 points, connecting on seven three-point shots in the process. Senior center Erik Allar added 16 points for the Blackhawks.
Brandon held a 31-21 lead at halftime on their way to the win.