By GREG MENGELT
Charlestown (5-11, 0-4 MSC) has games this week against Brownstown Central (12-3, 5-1) and North Harrison (11-3, 6-1) that could help determine the MSC champions.
The Pirates lost nine of their first 11 games in their first year under head coach Matt Lynch, but they recently scored wins over Borden and Lanesville.
“I am really proud of this group,” Lynch said. “We came into the season with little to no varsity experience with Charlestown graduating nine seniors. We have had bumps in the road, but we have won most of our close games this season.”
Four of Charlestown’s five wins have come in the final sectional or regulation or in overtime.
“I am proud of them for executing and finding a way to win those games,” Lynch said. “We have been starting two freshman, two sophomores and one junior, so this experience these players are getting will be vital in our future success.”
Brownstown, which features one the state’s best sophomores in Jack Benter — son of Braves’ coach Dave Benter, who enters Monday’s Hoosier Hills Hoops Game of the Night with 415 career wins in 24 years at Brownstown — took its first MSC loss Saturday at Corydon. Central, 92-78. They’re now a half-game behind North Harrison, which is Charlestown’s opponent on Thursday.
“Brownstown is a great team and a great program,” Lynch said. “Obviously, Coach Benter is one of the best in the business. Their team starts with Jack Benter. He can score from anywhere, so he will be the focal point for us on defense. But they also have (senior Carter) Waskom, who can get 20 points any given night. So we will have to be locked in on defense and make things difficult for those two but also keep their other guys off the offensive glass.”
The first-place Cougars, who lost to Brownstown 63-62 in double overtime on Dec. 17, can clinch their share of the MSC championship by beating Charlestown on Thursday. Brownstown still has to go to Pekin to face a very good Eastern (13-2, 3-2) team on Feb. 18.
A loss against Charlestown on Monday likely ends any chance of Brownstown winning its first MSC crown since 2019.
“This is a conference team and a ranked opponent, so it’s a big game for us,” Lynch said. “We have struggled against top competition, so this is a great test for us to see our improvement.”
GAME OF THE NIGHT
CHARLESTOWN AT BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Brownstown Central H.S. (500 N. Elm St., Brownstown)
• Records:
Charlestown 5-11, 0-4 MSC. The Pirates have lost eight of their last 10 games.
Brownstown Central 12-3, 5-1 MSC. The Braves have won four of their last five.
• Coaches:
Charlestown — Matt Lynch (5-11 in first season at Charlestown, 74-61 in sixth season overall)
Brownstown — Dave Benter (415-156 in 24th season at Brownstown)
• Rankings:
Brownstown — No. 8 AP (Class 3A).
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Charlestown — No. 288, No. 80 Class 3A
Brownstown — No. 68, No. 14 Class 3A
• Most recent game:
Charlestown — Won at Lanesville 44-41, 2OT (Jan. 29)
Brownstown — Lost at Corydon Central 92-78 (Jan. 29)
• Last 20 years: Brownstown 22-2. The Braves have won 13 straight against Charlestown.
• Most recent meeting: Feb. 27, 2021 — At Brownstown 68, Charlestown 55.
• John Harrell prediction: Brownstown 67, Charlestown 43.
• Sagarin projection: Brownstown by 29.
• Outlook: The Braves are legit. Benter is a scoring machine. They should win easily Monday, setting up a big showdown with Eastern on Feb. 18.
• Greg’s pick: Brownstown 79, Charlestown 54.
