By Kent Coultas
Brown County scored the first nine points of the game and beat West Central 51-39 in the IHSA 1A Supersectional in girls’ basketball March 2 at Pleasant Plains.
The Cougars finished the season 27-9. Brown County (32-4) would go on and finish third in the state tournament.
Ali Little scored West Central’s first points of the game with 4:14 remaining in the first quarter. Eli Wahl scored, and the Cougars trailed 11-6 with 1:34 remaining in the quarter. West Central had a chance to get closer but committed a turnover on its possession. Brown County led 13-6 after one quarter.
Brown County made a shot at the buzzer and led 23-12 at halftime.
Paisley Sturtevant made a three-point basket to start the third quarter and get West Central with 23-15. Brown County led 31-19 later in the quarter before Little and Gregory both scored and again cut the margin to eight points. Brown County scored the next six points and led 37-23 after three quarters.
West Central cut the margin to nine points in the fourth quarter but could not get any closer.
The Cougars made just eight of 22 free throw attempts in the game. Brown County made 23 of 35 free throw attempts.
Little scored 23 points, including 14 in the fourth quarter, to lead the Cougars. She also had five rebounds and two assists.
Sofie Grubb scored four points and had three rebounds and two assists. Gregory scored four points. Wahl scored three points, and Gracie Lashmett scored one. Jackie Lashmett had five rebounds.
