The Brandon boys basketball squad could not get over the hump against visiting Flint Hamady Jan. 13.
Joe Gilliard led all scorers with 18 points as Hamady defeated the Blackhawks in a non-league matchup 46-38, dropping Brandon to 2-5 on the season. The loss was Brandon’s fourth straight after a 2-1 start.
Hamady outscored the Blackhawks in each quarter but the second, when the two teams each scored nine apiece. Hamady took a 17-15 lead into the half.
‘We couldn’t make enough plays down the stretch,? Brandon coach Dennis Butcher. ‘It was a very slow-paced game. We wanted it that way, because Hamady’s a very athletic team. We wanted to give ourselves a chance to win late. I thought our guys played really well. Defensively, as a team, we did a really nice job.?
Jason Martin scored 11 points for the Blackhawks, while Tom Schaefer added 11 points and 10 rebounds and Joe Turcsak chipped with 10 points.
In league competition Friday, Jan. 9, a 23-point second quarter proved to be the spark needed to given host Linden a 65-56 win against the Blackhawks.
The Blackhawks (1-2 in the Flint Metro League) took a 14-8 lead at the end of the first period. However, Linden had eight steals in the second period and converted three 3-point shots on their way to taking a 31-29 lead at the half.
The Eagles took command of the game in the third quarter, outscoring the Blackhawks 18-9 to take a 49-38 lead at the end of the period.
Turcsak had 16 points in a losing cause for Brandon, while Gjon Nicaj added 12.
Butcher said in order for the Blackhawks to get back on the winning track, they have to execute better offensively. ‘Our defense is playing well enough,? he said.
Brandon returns to action Jan. 20 when they travel to Heritage for a 7 p.m. contest.