The Brownfield Runnin’ Cubs will add another basketball trophy to their trophy case after their 69-65 Bi-District Championship win over Kermit last night in Andrews Texas. What looked at first to be a possible easy game, became a tough competition and there were some miscues by Brownfield.
Beginning in the 1st quarter, Brownfield went on an 8-0 run with a Jeron Lawrence layup, Q Busby layup, KJ Carroll 3-pointer, and a Kaden McPherson free-throw. Kermit then went on a 13-0 run before George Rivera would bust a 3-pointer to get the score 11-13, Kermit still leading. Busby would get a nice layup and tied up the score 13-13 with 23 seconds left in the 1st quarter. Kermit would not capitalize on the few seconds left ending the 1st quarter 13-13.
In the 2nd quarter, Lawrence would get a quick layup taking the lead 15-13 for the Runnin’ Cubs. However, Kermit would gain the lead back with back-to-back 3-pointers now leading 19-15 at the 6:15 mark. Brownfield and Kermit would defend each other, then the Runnin’ Cubs was able to force a turnover and Lawrence busted a 3-pointer, still behind by 1 point. Coach McPherson would take a timeout at the 5:07 mark. The Cubs got the rebound from Kermit, and Lawrence was fouled under the basket causing him to go to the line and add 2 points with Brownfield taking the lead 20-19. Lawrence would score again with a layup and a nice assist from Busby. Brownfield forced another turnover and Lawrence drove the lane getting fouled on the score, bringing him to the line to make the three-point play the old fashion way, and now leading 25-19 with 3:54 left in the first half. Kermit got the ball back and busted a 3-pointer. Carroll would drive the lane and get fouled and was sent to the charity stripe where he got 1 point. The Cubs got another turnover and Tazon Stell would be fouled, however he did not score on the free-throw attempts. Busby would fight for the ball on the rebound, and got layup adding to the score 28-22. Kermit took the ball down court, however Brownfield found away to get the ball and Carroll was fouled sending him to the line and putting in both buckets, now leading 30-22 at the 2:09 mark. Both Brownfield and Kermit would defend each other with the final point of the half coming from Kermit on a free-throw, and the score 30-23 in favor of Brownfield.
Kermit took possession of the ball beginning of the 3rd quarter and went on a 9-0 run taking the lead 31-30. Brownfield finally got on the board with Lawrence getting 1 of 2 free throws and tying the game 31-31 with 5:11 left in the 3rd quarter. Kermit would take the ball downcourt and get a bucket then Brownfield did the same with Lawrence getting a long jump shot tying the game 33-33. Kermit would respond with a basket, and then Busby would get a nice layup with an assist from Stell. Again, Kermit responded taking the lead 37-35, but, Carroll would bust a 3-pointer with Brownfield taking the lead 38-37 with 3:37 left in the 3rd. Kermit got another bucket, however, Brownfield took the lead again with a 3-pointer from Lawrence making the score 41-39. The Runnin’ Cubs then forced a turnover and got the ball back down on their side. A foul was called for Kermit and the ball would be placed under the basket, and Busby got a jump shot from the inbound pass. Brownfield got the ball back and Lawrence again busted a 3-pointer. The Runnin’ Cubs defense stepped up one more time getting the ball back and Busby with another layup, now leading 48-39 after a 10-0 run. Kermit was able to score, then Busby got antother layup with an assist by Stell. Kermit finished the quarter scoring one more time ending the 3rd 50-43 in favor of Brownfield.
In the final quarter, Kermit struck first with 2 points. Tom Triebeneck was sent to the line but did not capitalize. However, Brownfield got the ball back and Lawrence got another 3-pointer from downtown, leading 53-45 at the 6:53 mark. Kermit went on a quick 4-0 run, then Tom was sent back to the line, this time making both buckets. Kermit then scored again and the Kermit coach called timeout. Kermit stole the ball from Brownfield and scored again closing the point gap to 55-53. Tom drove the lane and made the 3-point play the old-fashioned way bringing the score 58-53 at the 5:09 mark. Kermit got another 2 points, and Lawrence was able to bust another 3-pointer bringing the score to 61-55. Brownfield again, forced a turnover and Lawrence got a long jump shot to go in. Coach McPherson took another timeout. Kermit got the ball, and ended up being sent to the line and got both buckets. Brownfield turned the ball over, and Kermit capitalized and got another 2. Brownfield took possession and Tom was fouled and sent to the line and made 1 point bringing the score 64-59 at 2:22 mark. Kermit took the ball down the court and score 2-points. Carroll drove the lane and was fouled and he was sent to the charity stripe making both points bringing the score 66-61 with 1:05 left in the game. Kermit took possession and busted at 3-pointer getting within 2 point with 32 seconds left in the game. Kermit took the timeout. Brownfield took possession of the ball and Lawrence was fouled and got both points. The Runnin’ Cubs were able to get the ball back and Carroll was fouled and put the second one in and game final was 69-64.
Four Runnin’ Cubs were in double digits with Jeron Lawrence as the lead point scorer with 22 points. Following was Q Busby with 14, KJ Carroll with 12, and Jo Jo Carrillo with 11. Brownfield was 17 of 28 from the line.
After Brownfield’s loss to Littlefield in the seeding game and the Bi-District win over Kermit, the Runnin’ Cubs are scoring an average of 58 points a game and allowing 51 points a game. Shallowater on the other hand is averaging 73 points a game and allowing 48 points a game. Brownfield played against five top-25 teams from 1A to 4A and won two of those games. Shallowater played six top-25 teams from 1A to 4A and won five games (two against Childress). Both teams have played a tough schedule. The Runnin’ Cubs cannot turn the ball over and the need to win the rebound game. Shallowater has more size than Brownfield, but the quickness of the Runnin’ Cubs will be their advantage.
Now the Runnin’ Cubs take on the #2 team in Class 3A, the Shallowater Mustangs. Obviously, it doesn’t get any easier for Brownfield. The Mustangs went 12-0 in district, and are 29-2 on the season after their Bi-District Championship win over Dalhart 70-39. There are six teams both teams have in common and both Brownfield and Shallowater beat these six squads. Brownfield over Andrews 46-34 and Shallowater 64-25. Brownfield over Liberty 66-53, Shallowater played them twice, 78-51 & 81-45, Brownfield vs Snyder 61-40, Shallowater 71-51, Brownfield vs Slaton 67-51 and the Mustangs played them twice 72-47 & 78-36. Runnin’ Cubs vs Nazareth 50-41, Shallowater 68-35 and Brownfield vs Muleshoe twice 72-41 & 77-44 and Shallowater 80-41.
