by LYNDHURST, Ohio- Heading into Tuesday night’s home opener against Lorain, Brush head coach Chet Mason knew it would be a battle for 32 minutes.
That proved to be right as senior guard Corey Floyd sunk a corner three-pointer with five seconds left to ultimately get the Arcs their first home win of the season. Mason preached that experience is everything in big games like that, and he trusts a player like Floyd with the ball in his hands during the final seconds of the game.
“The experience is everything,” Mason explained. “I always say that experience is the best teacher. [Floyd and John Hugley] have played in these types of games before, I got to roll with them.
“If he takes the shot and misses it, I’m going to ride with him,” Mason continued. “If he has the confidence to take that shot, I know I can count on him to take shots like that come tournament time.”
Floyd finished the night with 10 points, none bigger than the final three to end the game. Senior forward John Hugley finished with a game-high 24 points with Elmore James rounding out the scoring with 12 points off the bench.
Despite knocking down the three-pointer to push Brush to a 2-0 record to start the season, Floyd believes this type of game was a learning experience and knows there is much more that can come out of a game like this.
“We know where we’re at and we know where we can grow from,” Floyd said after the game. “We got a lot of work to do, we messed up a lot.”
Brush controlled the game all throughout the first half, with the Arcs leading by a game-high nine points at the end of the first quarter. Lorain was able to battle back and keep it a two-score game into the second half. Deonte Benejan’s layup with five minutes left in the third quarter gave the Titans their first lead of the game.
Both teams traded baskets throughout the fourth quarter and no team took a lead greater than four points the final four minutes of the game. Titan senior guard Jordan Jackson tied the game up at 64 following a deep three-pointer with 15 seconds in the game.
From there, Brush was able to get an open look from the corner that eventually sent the Brush fans into a scream of joy. For Lorain, Jackson had a team-high 19 points. Deonte Benejan and Aaron Whitehead both contributed with 13 points during the loss.
When it mattered most late in the game, it was the Arcs that came away with one more big play than the Titans. Eight of the 14 players for the Brush Arcs are underclassmen. For Mason, it was imperative for his team to experience a game like this at the start of the season, as it brought a learning experience along the way.
“I believe the young guys are going to be so much better come March,” Mason said. “They’re going to believe a lot more in the older guys.
“One thing you know is that Lorain is going to come in and compete, no matter who is on the court,” he continued. “Our younger guys got the experience and our older guys got the confidence to take big shots.”
