Campbell County girls basketball coach Davey Johnson knew the game was far from over, even with a 40-21 advantage with less than four minutes to go in the third quarter.
The Camels had dominated the game up to that point, building their largest lead of the night. A young Bishop Brossart team came storming back, but came up just short as the Camels hung on for a 48-44 victory in the Crosstown Shootout at Campbell County Middle School.
“I knew that game was not over. I knew they’d fight back,” Johnson said. “This game is hardly ever a blowout and it’s just a rivalry and it is what it is.”
A 23-6 run got Brossart within two with 15 seconds remaining, but a Zoee Meyers 3-pointer came up short, followed by a turnover while Isabella Jayasuriya knocked down two free throws on the other end with six seconds to play to seal the deal.
The Mustangs got to that point in the closing seconds getting back to what got them off to a 6-0 start to the season…defense. After allowing 36 points in the first half, two more than their season average allowed per game, they held the Camels to two points in the final 3:54 of the third to get within 42-30 after three. The Camels scoring lapses continued in the fourth, scoring one point the first six minutes of the quarter and the Mustangs cutting the lead to three at 43-40.
“We found the ones that were willing to fight,” Mustangs coach Steve Brown said. “We had one kid that’s played in this game, really two kids that have played in this type of atmosphere. They could have packed it up and crumbled, but I’m proud of our group.”
Madeline Barbian hit a free throw for Campbell, but a Mustangs three-point play by Rachel Shewmaker with 1:30 to play made it 44-43. Faith Whitford stepped to the line for Campbell and scored her first two points of the game to make it 46-43, Shewmaker following by hitting 1-of-2 from the free throw line.
Jayasuriya had a chance to make it a two-possession game, but missed two free throws giving Brossart a chance to tie or take the lead with 24 seconds remaining.
“I thought it was kind of amazing that we had a chance with the ball to take the lead at the end,” Brown said. “The kids just fought and that’s the big thing. This game is always a rock fight. There’s no secrets, they’ll call a set and we’ll call out where they’re going and vice versa. You just got to be able to make plays, react and make good decisions.”
Jayasuriya led the Camels with 18 points, normally a starter, but coming off the bench after sitting the first 1:30 of the game.
“A mental lapse on her part in the last game is all that was (on why she came in off the bench),” Johnson said. “I knew she’d come in right away and do what she does. It’s fun when you bring in a player like that off the bench. I’m not going to do that anymore, I hope not, but it’s fun when you get to do that.”
Jayasuriya responded by attacking early and often, scoring 14 first half points on her way to 18 for the game.
“I just knew I had to lock in and come off the bench and give my team a boost. I knew I had to get into the paint because they were on me really hard. I had to drive every time I got the ball,” Jayasuriya said.
Lillian Enzweiler added nine points off the bench as the Camels collected 32 points from their reserves. Barbian had seven to lead the Camels starters.
The Camels held the Mustangs without a field goal in the first quarter as they jumped out to a 14-4 lead. Brossart’s first field goal came nine minutes into the game on a Lucy Guidugli banked 3-pointer. Offensive woes continued to plague Brossart, the Camels jumping out to a 36-19 halftime lead.
“We executed and the open shots we got, we made,” Johnson said. “We shot it really well, we finished at the rim, we made our free throws.”
The Camels face Bourbon County on Monday at 7:30 p.m., looking to get to 6-1.
“It’s fun, especially the way these close games went last year. We’re starting to win those, finish games off and we have two games next week and 7-1 sounds really good going into the Christmas tournament,” Johnson said.
Shewmaker led Brossart with 22 points, Zoee Meyers adding eight. The Mustangs dropped to 6-1, off until Thursday when they play in the Queen City Christmas Classic at Archbishop McNicholas (Ohio) at 2 p.m.
“I didn’t think we’d go 6-0,” Brown said. “Great learning experience for the kids tonight.”
CAMELS 48, MUSTANGS 44
BISHOP BROSSART — 4-15-11-14 — 44
CAMPBELL COUNTY — 14-22-6-6 — 48
Scoring
Brossart (44) — Shewmaker 22, Z. Meyers 8, Smith 4, Woosley 3, Guidugli 3, Kremer 2, Eviston 2
Campbell (48) — Jayasuriya 18, Enzweiler 9, Barbrian 7, Collins 5, Feebeck 3, Davis 2, Augsback 2, Whitford 2
Game Stats
3-Pointers made: Bishop Brossart 1, Campbell County 3
Free Throws: Bishop Brossart 15/19, Campbell County 13/20
Fouls: Bishop Brossart 18, Campbell County 17
Records: Bishop Brossart (6-1, 0-1) Campbell County (5-1, 1-0)