Falcons claim back-to-back section titles
John F. Brothers | Herald-Standard
Brownsville’s Marcellous Grooms (23) puts in two of his 10 points on a fast break as Frazier’s Caleb Cox (12) defends during Friday’s Section-4-AA boys basketball game at Brownsville Area High School. The Falcons won, 67-41, to clinch their second consecutive section championship.
John F. Brothers | Herald-Standard
Brownsville’s Noah Brown (33) shoots the ball over the top of Frazier’s L.A. Ross (11) during the 2014-15 season. Brown was selected the top player in the Small School division. Ross also was named to the squad.
Brownsville's Noah Brown (33) attempts to steal the ball from Frazier's Mark Dillon (23) during the first half of their Section 4-AA boys basketball game Friday at Brownsville Area High School.
Brownsville's Travis Bevard (3) tries to stop Frazier's L.A. Ross (11) from scoring as the Falcons' Tryvon Brown (left) looks on during their Section 4-AA boys basketball game Friday at Brownsville Area High School.
Brownsville's Noah Brown (33) finds himself surrounded by all five of Frazier's players during their Section 4-AA boys basketball game Friday at Brownsville Area High School.
During halftime of the Frazier-Brownsville boys basketball game Friday, the Brownsville High School Athletic Hall of Fame introduced its first class of honorees. Those inducted were Carl Aschman, Krystal Brooks, Don Croftcheck, Charles Drazenovich, Frank Filchock, Bobby Locke, Fred Mazurek, Pat Mullin, Bob Petriello, Frank Ricco, Ed Roebuck and the 1943 Brownsville football team.
HILLER — Brownsville will have to make a little more room in its high school trophy case.
The Falcons blew open a close game with a big second period and went on to defeat visiting Frazier, 67-41, to earn their second consecutive section championship on Friday night.
Brownsville ends the regular season 16-5 overall and 10-2 and tied with Charleroi atop the Section 4-AA standings. The Falcons were 14-8 last season and 12-2 in winning the Section 5-AA crown outright.
“It’s an honor to win two straight section titles … first time to ever do it,” said Brownsville’s Andre Smith, who scored a game-high 17 points.
“It means a lot. These kids have really earned it,” Falcons coach Brian Brashear said. “The fans have earned it, the town … we did it for everybody that comes out and supports us.”
Frazier (11-11, 6-6), which also is playoff bound, gave Brownsville a tough battle in their first meeting, falling 63-61 in Perryopolis on Jan. 13. After one period, Friday’s game looked like it would be a similar tight battle as the score was knotted at 14-14.
Caleb Cox and Damon Louis hit early 3-pointers to help the Commodores get off to a good start and two baskets by Josh Cox and a bucket by L.A. Ross helped Frazier take a 14-10 lead. Brownsville answered with a Noah Brown 3-pointer and a Smith free throw to wrap up an opening frame that featured three lead changes and four ties.
The second period was a different story, however.
Sparked by their quick, harassing, trapping defense, the Falcons rattled the Commodores and reeled off the first 17 points of the period to complete a 21-point run for a commanding 31-14 lead, to the delight of the large contingent of Brownsville fans on hand.
“We came out in the second quarter and were able to do what we’ve done all season, use defense to create offense, and it worked to our advantage,” Brashear said.
“We had turnovers, they had fast breaks and they finished,” Frazier coach Ed Keebler said. “We got a little flustered for sure. Brownsville definitely showed what they had tonight. They pushed the issue. They attacked the rim on fast breaks whenever they could.”
Frazier tried to fight back, and cut the gap to 14 three times later in the period but a 3-pointer by Brownsville’s Tryvon Brown in the final seconds gave the hosts a 39-22 halftime lead.
The Commodores wouldn’t get closer than 16 the rest of the way.
Marcellous Grooms and DeJour Thomas scored seven points apiece for the Falcons in the period and Smith added five to give him 10 first-half points.
“Andre had a really good game tonight,” Brashear said. “He was really big on the offensive glass, he hit a couple of outside shots, which was a nice bonus for him, and he had a couple of steals. He really did it on both ends of the floor.”
Brownsville cruised in the second half. The Falcons led 52-32 after three periods and pushed the gap up to 27 points in the fourth period on a basket by Caleb Kirkland before settling on the 24-point win.
Thomas followed Smith in the Brownsville scoring column with 11 points and Grooms added 10.
Falcons star Noah Brown scored only six but wasn’t looking for points on this night.
“The last time we played Frazier I didn’t score well so I decided tonight I was going to pass a little more so we could win the game,” Brown said. “They were open every time down the court, so I figured, pass the ball and get the bucket.”
“He was able to get everybody else involved,” Brashear said. “Noah is a team player. He was able to find the open guy and he was able to help propel our offense in a different way tonight.”
“We all just try to share the ball, move the ball around,” Smith said.
Ross and Louis led the Commodores with 10 points apiece.
“We had plenty of opportunities to be in this game and we just didn’t put the ball in the hoop,” Keebler said. “And we were four of 17 from the foul line. We can’t do that and win.
“We’ve got to regroup, because we had a good week this week. We beat Carmichaels and we came back and beat Clairton the next day in a non-section game. We just came out flat today.”
Both teams will learn their playoff destinations Tuesday night when the brackets are revealed at the WPIAL pairings meeting in Green Tree.
NOTES: The newly formed Brownsville High School Athletic Hall of Fame inducted its first 11 members and team at halftime of Friday night’s game. The individual inductees were Carl Aschman, Krystal Brooks, Don Croftcheck, Charles Drazenovich, Frank Filchock, Bobby Locke, Fred Mazurek, Pat Mullin, Bob Petriello, Frank Ricco and Ed Roebuck. The team inducted was the 1943 Brownsville football team.