 |
 |
 |
 |
| Segment Number Twenty-Four |
 |
| Not winning the All "A" State was a tough blow, we had won all of the big games that we had needed to win except the last one. Beating UHA who literally owned the tournament and then an emotional win over NCC in a game that would have been better served being the finals, set us up for success but we failed fundamentally down the stretch that day and the big prize went home to Hazard. That game has rarely been discussed since that day. There were many areas that could have been second guessed or even done differently had we had another chance, but games are played for thirty-two minutes and you've got to get the job done within that time span in order to win and Hazard did and we didn't. The Mustangs would return home to face the Mason County Royals before a full house including Louisville head coach Rick Pitino and his sons. The Mustangs played admirably in that one and did a great defensive job of future Tennessee star Chris Lofton. The Stangs would fall that night 62-51 to the Royals but showed the world that we could play with them and eagerly anticipated a rematch in the upcoming 10th Region Tournament when we were well rested and properly prepared. |
| Mason County grabs lead, doesn't let go Post staff report Defending state champion Mason County used a 20-5 advantage in the second quarter en route to a 62-51 victory against Bishop Brossart on Tuesday night at Campbell County Middle School. Junior guard Wes Jones scored 22 points to lead the Royals, ranked No. 2 in the Associated Press state poll. Mr. Basketball candidate Chris Lofton, a senior guard, added 12 points. Brossart, fresh off a runner-up finish in the state All "A" Classic, trailed 36-19 at halftime and could never catch up. Watching from the stands was University of Louisville coach Rick Pitino, reportedly scouting Chris Lofton. Junior forward Evan McDole scored 12 points for Mustangs, who are ranked No. 5 in the Northern Kentucky coaches poll. Senior guard Rob Doyle added 11 points. MASON COUNTY 16 20 12 14 -- 62 at BROSSART 14 5 13 19 -- 51 MASON COUNTY (62): Lofton 5 1 12, Pfeffer 3 0 9, Jones 10 2 22, Grutza 4 2 10, Litzinger 4 0 9. Totals 26 5 62. BROSSART (51): Doyle 5 1 11, Anderson 3 1 10, McCarthy 2 0 4, Cooper 2 1 6, Smith 2 0 4, Rhoden 2 0 4, McDole 6 0 12. Totals 22 3 51. Three-pointers: MC-Lofton, Pfeffer 3, Litzinger. B-Anderson 3, Cooper. Records: Mason County 20-2, Brossart 18-5. JV: Brossart, 46-35. |
 |
| The Mustangs would win out the remainder of the regular season with wins over St. Patrick at home, Highlands in Fort Thomas, Owensboro in the Rupp Classic at Lexington Catholic, St. Henry in Erlanger, and Simon Kenton at home. Appearing in the Rupp Classic was yet another re-affirmation of this program's rise to prominance. We aquitted ourselves well in the Rupp Classic defeating Owensboro 57-42. |
| Mustangs Top Legendary Owensboro In Rupp Classic BMustangs Website Report I think that this is what Coach Willie Schlarman envisioned when he first took the Brossart job back in 1997. Creating a program which would eventually rise to statewide prominence, become a perennial contender in the 10th Region, dominant in the "A" regional comptition, a contender in State Level "A" competition and run with the biggest of the big dogs on a regular basis. If I am correct in my assumption, we have presently arrived at that point. Today Brossart traveled to Lexington and participated in the Adolph Rupp Classic. We shared the card with defending State Champion Mason County; Lexington Catholic, the number one ranked team in the state; Louisville Fairdale; Louisville Iriquois; North Hardin; Madison Central; and we played Owensboro. Owensboro has a long and storied tradition in this state as a basketball power. They have made 39 trips to the "Sweet Sixteen" State Tournament. They have won and become State Champions on three occasions. They have played in the State Semi-Finals 12 times, and participated in the quarterfinals 21 times. Their first appearance was back in 1920 and their most recent trip was in 2002. Brossart on the other hand has made one appearance in the "Sweet Sixteen" where we advanced to the quarterfinals. Our most recent appearance was in 2000. Today the Brossart Mustangs beat the Owensboro Red Devils 57-42 at Lexington Catholic High School in the Adolph Rupp Classic Showcase Event. For the first seven minutes of the ballgame the two teams played ask and answer basketball and Owensboro led 10-8. A Ryan Anderson three point goal put the Mustangs on top 11-10 and the guys in green never looked back. The Mustangs pushed the lead to 16-10 at the end of the quarter and had opened up a 25-17 lead at halftime. Owensboro cut the Mustang lead to 27-22 midway through the third quarter by causing multiple turnovers vs their press. A timely Willie Schlarman timeout and an ariel assault upon the Red Devil press sent the Mustangs on a 12-4 run, extending the Mustangs lead to 39-26 after three quarters were in the book. Brossart would outslug Owensboro 18-16 in the final stanza to record our 21st win of the season by a 57-42 score. Evan McDole led the Mustangs with a double-double, putting 17 points on the board and grabbing 11 rebounds, including a first period slam-dunk and his career's only 3-point goal. Ryan Anderson, responsible for 8 of the Mustangs 16 first quarter points, finished the day with three 3-point goals, a duece and a perfect four of four from the line for a 15 point performance. Kevin Smith contributed 8 points, Jason Cooper had 7 including a late-game three point exclamation point, Rob Doyle scored 6, while Brett Reilly and Steve McCarthy each added two points apiece. The win is the 21st of the season for the Mustangs who will face St. Henry in the first half of a boy-girl doubleheader on Tuesday. |
| Owensboro who had no scorers reach double-figures were led by 280 pound wide-body Julius Maddox with 9 points. Marcus Seaton was second best with 8, three Red Devils scored seven points apiece - they were Tyson Hamilton, Dazmine Thurston, and Tyler Wimsatt; and Clay Durham and Dominic Jackson each added a basket for 2 each. Owensboro who had just lost by only three points to the State's Number Five ranked team, Owensboro Apollo, falls to 8-16 on the season. |
 |
| We had received what appeared to be a great draw in Bracken County as our first round opponent in the 38th District Tournament and the winner of that game received an automatic bid to the 10th Region Big Dance the next week in Maysville. Unexplicably, the Mustangs failed to expand on their 15-10 halftime lead in that ballgame, failed to connect from the field, couldn't solve the Polar Bear zone defense, were unable to utilize our big man who was sitting out an informal suspension, and eventally lost the game - the most devestating loss in the history of the program and the last that Willie Schlarman would coach as Head Coach of the Mustangs . |
BMustangs Website Report The Brossart Mustangs were ousted from the 2004 38th District Tournament in possibly the biggest upset in State District Tournament play to date. Brossart came into the contest 23-5, ranked Number Four in Northern Kentucky and Number Fourteen in the State, with wins over CovCath, Holmes, Clark County, University Heights, NCC, Owensboro and the Polar Bears themselves earlier this season in the "A" Regional Finals 62-41. Bracken County on the other hand entered tonight's game at 10-15, but tonight it didn't matter, both teams were 0-0 in post-season play and the Bracken County Polar Bears emerged 1-0 and ended the Brossart Mustangs' basketball season. Brossart very much fell victim to "Play Like Them" syndrome, allowing the Bears to dictate the tempo of the game, shortening the contest by being deliberate on offense, managing to get back on defense well, controlling the boards, hitting their shots and winning the game. The Mustangs appeared well positioned to advance leading the Bears 17-10 at halftime, and a breakaway Brossart layup threatened to open the Mustang lead to nine early on in the second half. However, the layup was left short, the ensuing stickback was missed, the Bears converted the miss into a Bracken County basket, forced a turnover, hit a three and just that quick our potential nine point lead became a two point lead and our Mustangs found themselves in a dogfight. The Mustangs managed only five points in that fatal third quarter being outscored 11-5 drawing the Bears to within one at 22-21 after three periods of play. Bracken took over the lead 23-22 at the 7:01 mark and led by as much as three at 27-24, 4:25 minutes out. Brossart found themselves facing extinction with :22 seconds to go in the contest when a Ryan Anderson three point attempt found its mark and the Mustangs were suddenly back in the lead. The Mustangs faithful breathed a sigh of relief when the Bears traveled on the ensuing possession giving the Mustangs the lead and the ball back with under fifteen ticks to play but an intercepted pass and layup by Tyler Bess put the Bears back on top 31-30. Brossart inbounded and were quickly fouled by the Bears who had fouls to give, but at the :05 second mark Steve McCarthy broke free at the top of the key and put up a good looking shot which just didn't fall as time expired and the Brossart Mustangs headed to baseball season. This is only the second time in the seven year tenure of Willie Schlarman as our head coach that the Mustangs have failed to qualify for the 10th Region Tournament. Our hats are off to Coach Hammonds and the Bracken County Polar Bears who will now advance to face Pendleton County in the District finals on Friday night and be assured a berth in the 10th Region Tournament next week on the Grand Stage of the Mason County Fieldhouse. Pendleton County blew open a 27-24 halftime lead outscoring Campbell County 35-25 in the second half to defeat the Camels 62-49 and end the Camels season at 14-13. If a basketball season like life is a series of peaks and valleys we have certianly been on our share of peaks this season. Knocking off Number One ranked Covington Catholic, winning the All "A" Regional Tournament and then beating NCC in the State semi-finals and playing in the State "A" Championship has to rank right up there also. Playing Elder to a couple of points in the Cintas Center was really neat, and beating Owensboro in the Adolph Rupp Classic had us feeling really good about ourselves as well. Unfortunately, our last memories will be of this agonizing loss to the Bracken County Polar Bears and the unanswered question of Why??? Coach Schlarman often tells our guys that to beat a superior opponent you don't have to be the better team, you just have to be the better team for 32 minutes, and tonight the Polar Bears were the better team for 32 minutes. It is sad to see the careers of Rob Doyle and Derrick Rhoden end in this manner, but it should make the returning players more hungry and more focused on taking care of business when the opportunities present themselves in the future. I am sorry to report that Kevin Smith suffered multiple breaks to his thumb during the first half of tonight's game and will require a pin and surgery to repair. Having lost the services of Smith the Mustangs would have faced a very staunch task of competing in the District Finals and Regional Tournament. We wish Smitty a speedy recovery. We missed Mr. Tim Cooper's presence tonight and will not have photos from him that we are normally accustomed to receiving after our ballgames. Tim is under weather and was forced to miss tonight's game. Box Score: Smith 4-0-2/2-10, Anderson 0-3-0/0-9, McDole 0-0-4/4-4, Doyle 1-0/1-2-3, Cooper 1-0-0/0-2, and McCarthy 1-0-0/0-2. Mustangs 7-3-7/8-30 Bracken County was led by Joe Moyer with 13 points, Andrew King added 8, and Tyler Bess had 6, including the game-winner. |
| Mustangs Shocked By Bracken County Polar Bears 31-30 Ousted From 38th District Tournament Season Ends At 23-6 |
 |
| As the buzzer sounded signaling the conclusion of the Bracken County win over our Mustangs and bedlam was beginning to break out on the floor of the Middle School as the Polar Bears and their fans celebrated their unlikely victory over the Brossart Mustangs, Bill Klopp who was broadcasting the game with me leaned over and whispered in my ear that I had just seen Willie Schlarman coach his last game at Brossart. His comments turned prophetic when in mid-April longtime Highlands Bluebirds Coach John Messmer resigned as the Birds head coach and Willie Schlarman applied for the job back at his alma mater. Schlarman would be named the head coach of the Birds in mid-May and Mike Code would take over as the head coach of the Mustangs, providing stability and "business as usual" here on the Avenue of Champions. It is tragic that the Mustangs had to fall to Bracken County. It is almost unthinkable that it could happen -but it certainly did. Did we fall victim to our slow-it-down game to an inferior opponent, or did we just have a horrifficly bad night. Those questions will never be answered. The bottom line is that we, and Willie Schlarman deserved better. But, as Willie always said - Schabs, it's not about deserving, and it certainly wasn't on March 3rd of 2004 when the Schlarman era came to an abrupt end. Willie Schlarman gave this program seven magnificent years, a glory ride that I was privleged to be a part of. He will always be remembered for all of the wonderful things that took place during his tenure and will become a larger and larger legend as the years pass. I'm happy that I have finally finished this FLASHBACK series even though it has taken me two years to gather up the time and energy to make it happen. It is a fitting tribute to a great coach and a good friend and allow us to take a trip back down memory lane on occasion reliving those glory days when Willie coached the Mustangs!!!! Coach Schabell |