Playing in one of the toughest sectional fields in Indiana, the Bellmont Braves looked well on their way to a victory over the host Mississinewa Indians, leading at one point in the second quarter by 15 points in Tuesday’s opening game.
Then the Indians turned up the defensive pressure.
Turnover after turnover resulted in breakaway points for Mississinewa as they clawed their way back into the game and trailed 31-26 at halftime.
Gavin Krull was key for the Braves in that first half, knocking down four three-point shots.
The pressure really wreaked havoc on the Braves in the third quarter, where they scored just seven points and found themselves trailing by five heading into the fourth.
At one point in the third, Mississinewa stole the ball on four straight possessions and went to the other end for eight easy points.
The Braves showed tremendous heart against the home crowd and the momentum of the Indians, recovering somehow from a nine-point deficit in the fourth quarter to get back in the game. A huge three by Jack Scheumann late in the game and buckets by seniors Andrew James, Kord Fuelling and Dylan Velez put the ball in Bellmont’s hands with 30 seconds to go and Mississinewa leading 54-53.
Krull was fouled on Bellmont’s final possession and he calmly and cleanly knocked down both free throws, showing tremendous poise in the hostile environment.
Mississinewa then went down the court and called time out, setting up a play that looked to seek penetration in the lane, but it was a kick out to Simpkins that ultimately brought the final shot of the game, which hit nothing but net on the way down as the buzzer sounded, sending the Mississinewa students streaming onto the court to celebrate the upset.
Krull led the Braves with 17 points, while Jack Scheumann had 14. Velez had nine in his final game, while classmate Kord Fuelling had eight. Andrew James scored five points and Job Hoffman put all the seniors in the scoring column with a couple of free throws in the first quarter.
