By Jeff Patrus
Sports Writer
Brandon’s transfer student connection helped the Blackhawks earn a key Flint Metro League victory Feb. 1.
The host Blackhawks avenged an earlier loss to Fenton this season with a 79-72 win, improving to 3-10 overall and 3-4 in league play. Fenton fell to 4-3 in the league.
Guard Adrain Harges led the Blackhawks with 15 points, and added five steals, five assists and five rebounds, while forward Donald Carter achieved a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds.
In December, the Tigers defeated the Blackhawks 85-75 at Fenton. Brandon coach Tim Donnan said the Blackhawks? improvement as a team since that point was a key factor in the reversal of fortunes, along with Brandon’s figuring out Fenton’s style of play.
‘A lot of teams that play up-tempo and have a pressing style of defense have success earlier in the year until teams figure out how to break the press,? Donnan said.
Another factor in Brandon’s success was the presence of Carter and Harges, the two Pontiac Central transfer students who became eligible to play for the Blackhawks at the beginning of the second semester.
‘They couldn’t box D.C. (Carter) out and they couldn’t stop A.D. (Harges) with their press,? Donnan said. ‘They tried to change the tempo and slow it down, but it was a tempo we were comfortable with.?
The game featured plenty of trips to the free throw line for both teams. A total of 19 fouls in the first quarter alone were called on the two teams. At times, Fenton coach Tim Olszewski substituted all five players at once, a strategy Donnan said he does not use.
‘It doesn’t keep the guys in the flow of the game,? Donnan said.
Brandon went to the free throw line 49 times, converting 25 (51 percent), while Fenton was 23-35 from the charity stripe (65.7 percent).
The Blackhawks were able to get 11 players on the scoresheet in the win. Center Erik Allar was the other Brandon player in double figures with 10 points, while guards Ryan Smith and Gary Glasby added eight points apiece.
Brian Hines scored 15 points in the loss for Fenton.