Brandon’s varsity basketball team got into a shootout against host Fenton Dec. 14, but came out on the short end of the stick.
The Tigers earned an 85-75 win against the Blackhawks in the Flint Metro League opener for both teams, leaving the Blackhawks winless on the season at 0-3 overall and 0-1 in league play.
Brandon tried to keep pace with the Tigers throughout the first half, but fell just a little short. Fenton held a 25-19 lead at the end of the first period, and led 47-39 at the end of the second.
Then Brandon’s offense hit a dry spell in the third period, as Fenton outscored the Blackhawks 23-10 in the third period, leaving the Blackhawks in a 70-49 hole heading into the fourth quarter.
The Blackhawks did their utmost to come back in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Tigers 25-16, but it was not enough.
Both teams were frequent visitors to the free throw line, with Fenton connecting on 25-of-39 attempts (64.1 percent) and Brandon converting 23-of-37 attempts (62.1 percent).
Junior center Andrew Koenig led a contingent of four Blackhawks in double figures, scoring 22 points, while junior guard Gary Glasby scored 18 points, and junior guard Ryan Smith and junior swingman Adam Howard scored 11 points apiece.
The Blackhawks suffered their second loss in as many attempts when they lost to White Lake Lakeland 49-35 in a Dec. 10 contest.
Brandon hung tough for a quarter, with Lakeland only leading by three points, 10-7, at the end of the first quarter. However, the Eagles pulled away from the Blackhawks in the second, outscoring Brandon 17-9 in the period to take a 27-16 lead at the half.
Howard was the only Brandon player in double figures, scoring 14 points.