Eagles Hold Off Newsome To Win Key Class 5A-8 Game

BRANDON - The Brandon boys basketball team's Big Four proved to be too much for Newsome as the Eagles held on to win, 71-63, in a Class 5A-District 8 game Friday.

Four players scored in double digits for Brandon (7-1, 5-1), led by senior guard Blake Allen's 19 points. Forward Evan Ravenel, who has committed to Boston College, followed with 18 points and 10 rebounds, while senior guard Tarron Stewart added 14 points and five assists. Senior forward Marcus Morrison had 13 points, including a putback dunk, and six rebounds.

The game was tied at 55 with 4:19 remaining in the fourth quarter when Brandon went on a 7-2 run for a 62-57 lead with 2:31 left. Ravenel scored five consecutive points to give the No. 6 state-ranked Eagles a 69-62 lead with 22 seconds remaining.

"It could be us in the district championship," Brandon coach Mark Hermann said.

Junior forward Joe Raga led the Wolves (7-2, 4-2) with a game-high 30 points on 14-of-18 shooting from the field. Raga also finished with five rebounds and two blocks. Sophomore forward Samal Shepherd added 15 points, which included three 3-pointers.

"We made some mistakes we shouldn't have made," Newsome coach Jon Mackey said. "Offensive rebounds, that was the difference in the game. I bet they had seven or eight offensive rebounds."

Brandon led by as many as 10 points in the third quarter, but two 3-pointers from Shepherd and a jumper from Raga tied the game heading into the final quarter.

"We knew we had to come in and play hard," Allen said. "We knew they beat King, which is our only loss."

Newsome (63) - Fugate 3 1-4 7, Raga 14 2-3 30, Shepherd 6 0-0 15, Joyce 1 0-0 3, Marin 1 0-0 2, Murphy 1 0-0 2, Mackey 1 0-0 2. Totals 27 2-7 63.

Brandon (71) - Stewart 7 0-1 14, Allen 7 2-3 19, Morrison 6 1-6 13, Ravenel 8 2-4 18, Burgos 2 2-2 7. Totals 30 7-16 71.

Newsome

14 14 19 16 - 63

Brandon

15 17 15 24 - 71

3-point goals - Shepherd 3, Joyce (N); Allen 3, Burgos (B). Total fouls - N 10, B 10. Records - N 7-2, B 7-1.