By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – The IHSAA ping-pong balls bounced in Bedford North Lawrence’s favor once again.
The Stars, with two more road games remaining in the regular season, learned their postseason fate on Sunday night when they received a first-round bye into the Class 4A Sectional 15 semifinal. They will conclude their journey this week, starting with a short trip to Brownstown on Monday night.
In the sectional, BNL (6-14) will await the winner between overwhelming sectional favorite New Albany (16-5) and Scottsburg (12-10) from the first night on March 3. In the other first-round bracket, defending state champion Jeffersonville (8-12) will face Floyd Central (10-11) in the Tuesday opener, with that victor to face host Seymour (10-9) in the first semifinal on March 6.
The championship game is set for March 7.
Regardless of the opponent, BNL will face a foe that already posted a win at its expense. The Warriors stopped the Stars 65-52 on Feb. 10 in BNL Fieldhouse, while the No.12 Bulldogs thumped BNL 95-61 on Feb. 20 at New Albany.
“Either way, it’s somebody we will be trying to avenge a loss from earlier,” BNL coach Jackson Ryan said. “If it’s New Albany, and I’m sure they’re heavily favored, there were things from that first half we can build on, do it for 32 minutes instead of 16 minutes.
”We will have nothing to lose, it was be an us-against-the-world mentality. We will give them our best shot. They have to lace their shoes up and get ready to go, the same as we do. Everyone is starting over at 0-0, and crazier things have happened in March. We want to come out swinging, fight for our seniors.”
BNL could use some late wins for momentum, and that could start with the Braves. Brownstown (13-6) is back at full strength with the return of Lane Pendleton to the starting lineup.
”Toughness hits the nail on the head,” Ryan said. “If we’re going to give ourselves an opportunity to beat them, toughness is the name of the game.”
Both teams are battling a late-season traffic jam on the calendar. BNL will be playing its third game in four days, preparing for the Braves without any practice time, while Brownstown is taking the court for the fourth time in six days – and the Braves also have a home date with Floyd Central on Tuesday. That’s busier than an NBA schedule.
Brownstown won last year’s clash with BNL by a 77-44 count as Colby Hall scored 25 points and Pendleton added 22. The Braves were never threatened as they rolled to a 21-7 lead after the first quarter and a 43-21 advantage at the half. They triggered the running clock for the final 1:33 of the fourth quarter.
BNL at BROWNSTOWN
When: Monday, 7:30 p.m.
Records: BNL 6-14; Brownstown 13-6
Sagarin ratings: BNL 64.05; Brownstown 74.11
Series: BNL leads 26-9
Last meeting: Last year at BNL, the Braves bounced the Stars 77-44. Colby Hall had 25 points and Lane Pendleton added 22 for Brownstown. Patric Matson and Dax Short had 12 points each for BNL.
Previous game story: Top-ranked Braves teach masterclass
Game notes: Brownstown is playing its fourth game in six days. The Braves will compete in the Class 3A state tournament once again because of the success factor rule after winning the 2A state title in 2024. Brownstown coach Dave Benter ranks seventh among active coaches with 514 career wins.
Starting lineups
Bedford NL Stars
F – Gibson Crane 6-3 Sr.
F – Easton Moore 6-2 So.
G – Dax Short 6-1 Sr.
G – Parker Kern 6-1 Jr.
G – Driven Axsom 5-8 Sr.
Brownstown Braves
F – Lane Pendleton 6-5 Sr.
G – Preston Garrison 5-9 Sr.
G – Linkan Brittain 6-2 Sr.
G – Carter Colbert 6-1 Sr.
G – Brock Dean 6-1 Sr.
