PREP BASKETBALL STATE TOURNAMENT : Brown and Carey Fill Roles as Brethren’s Unsung Heroes

It has been 21 games and nearly three months since Brethren Christian last lost a basketball game. Sonora beat the Warriors by 16 points in the Sonora holiday tournament.

“We had six people playing and most of them are on the bench now,” center Andy Brown said. “That game seems like ages ago. We watched the film the other day. We’ve come a long way from that.”

Maybe no two players on Brethren’s Division V State finalist team have come further than Brown and guard Seth Carey, the two unsung members of the Warriors’ starting five.

Brown, a 6-foot-5 junior, had played football and was late in joining the basketball team. When he finally made it back, he found himself on the bench.

“He wasn’t active on the boards or defensively,” Brethren Coach Richard Thomas said. “Keith (Washington) was doing a lot better job defensively.”

Carey, a 5-11 senior, began the season as a starter. But once football ended, he took a seat next to Brown on the bench.

“I don’t know why I wasn’t playing,” Carey said. “You have to ask coach on that one. I’d get in at the end of games, maybe.”

Thomas said Carey simply wasn’t producing.

“He was kind of in a slump,” Thomas said. “He wasn’t shooting well. He wasn’t looking for his shot. And eventually, it affected his defense.”

Carey’s confidence and his shot gradually began to come back and soon he had regained his starting spot, putting Washington on the bench as the sixth man.

“I think Coach started seeing the things I did that maybe don’t stand out in the box score,” Carey said. ‘I do lots of things a little. I’m second and third on the team in lots of categories. And hopefully, I’ll hit a three when we need it.”

Carey, who is averaging 8.1 points, 2.8 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 1.6 steals, stepped up and hit three three-pointers in Brethren’s overtime victory over Palos Verdes Chadwick in the Southern California final.

Brown, who came to life and regained his starting job in mid-January like Carey, also contributed heavily in last Saturday’s victory over Chadwick in the Division V Southern California final. His rebound and layup tied the game at 46 in overtime and his defensive rebound among three Chadwick players set up Richard Mendoza’s game-winning free throw.

Thomas wasn’t surprised that Brown beat three players to the ball.

“In practice when I’m trying to block him out, he’s gotten his hands on balls that I wonder, “How in the heck did he get there,’ ” Brethren Coach Richard Thomas said. “I’ve never had a rebounder as determined as Andy.”

Brown, who is the team’s leading rebounder at 8.5 a game, says he’s only playing his role.

“My job’s mainly just to rebound, maybe dive for a couple balls here and there, let the other guys do pretty much all the scoring,” Brown said. “But when (Scott Thomas and Reggie Davis) are having off-nights, I’ll try and score a little more. We’re not a selfish team. We can exchange our roles for the good of the team.”

Carey said he’s just happy everyone finally knows his role.

“I think we were all confused at the beginning,” Carey said.

Including, Richard Thomas.

“We really didn’t know what Seth and Andy were going to do,” Thomas said. “Both of them were on (religious) mission trips over the summer, so we didn’t get to see them. We didn’t know how they were going to fit in.”

In some respects, Carey still feels like an outcast. But he doesn’t seem to mind.

“I’m not usually in the paper too much,” Carey said. “They usually don’t want to talk to me. They want the other guys. It doesn’t bother me, though.”

Brown realizes he is being asked to play more than a supporting role in the State championship game against 6-11 All-American Darnell Robinson of Emeryville Emery. Thomas has given Brown the task of playing Robinson man-to-man.

“Hopefully, Andy can body him and frustrate him a little,” Thomas said.

Brown can’t wait for the opportunity to play an All-American.

“Even 6-11 All-American’s have bad games every now and then,” Brown laughed. “I think we have a really good chance. We have nothing to hold back. I really believe we can win.”

Saturday’s Division V Boys

Emeryville Emery vs. Brethren Christian, 11:15 a.m.

SITE--Oakland Coliseum Arena

RECORDS--Brethren Christian (26-7), Emery (29-5)

EMERY--Even though All-American center Darnell Robinson averages 29 points, 14 rebounds and five assists, Coach Abe Abrami contends that defense is the main reason Emery is still playing. “We win with tough man-to-man defense,” he said. “We’re not going to change our style. We’ll play man-to-man half court and full court. We even have the big guys playing tough man-to-man defense. We will continue to emphasize that. This is not the time to change.” When Emery’s not going to Robinson, the shots usually come from forward Endiecko Battles (14 points, 17 rebounds) or guard James Carter (11 points).

BRETHREN CHRISTIAN--The Warriors’ last loss came to Sonora, a Division III school in the Sonora tournament. Brethren Christian starters, Brown, Thomas and Davis, had just returned from football and were not in basketball shape. Since then, the Warriors have run off 21 consecutive victories, including three over Palos Verdes Chadwick. “They’ll tell you (their season) is an act of God,” Chadwick Coach Tom Maier said. “Well, I worship the same God. I’ve got to give them credit though.” In the playoffs, the Warriors have not shot well, but they’ve played a smothering man defense and have rebounded well. Also, opponents’ missed free throws at the end of games and questionable referees’ calls have not hurt Brethren’s cause. “If you want, you could call them a team of destiny,” Maier said. “That’s a dream season they’ve had. It’s a dream team. I told (Richard Thomas) it looks like he’s riding the crest of a wave. If so, it’s the best wave he’s ever hit.”

KEY TO THE GAME--Brethren has never faced a player of Robinson’s size or talent. So if Brethren Coach Richard Thomas doesn’t devise a plan to keep the ball away from Robinson, the Warriors could be in big trouble. “We expect the big guy to be double-teamed,” Abrami said. “I know I would. One man isn’t going to handle him. He’s awfully good.” Thomas said he will likely play a box-and-one defense against Emery--four players in a zone with Brown guarding Robinson inside. Offensively, Thomas said he hopes to get Robinson in foul trouble by going at him. “No matter how many times he swats us, we’ll keep taking it to him. I’ve got to be concerned about him, but we’ve still got to go out there and play hard basketball.”

CONSENSUS--Brethren is clearly overmatched physically, and it appears as though the Warriors’ incredible season might end on a sour note in Oakland. But Brethren has come back from seemingly insurmountable deficits throughout the playoffs, so it seems nothing is impossible with this team.

*Starting Lineups

EMERYVILLE EMERY

P Name Ht. Avg. F Endiecko Battles 6-8 14.0 F Jamaal Gaines 6-1 9.0 C Darnell Robinson 6-11 29.5 G James Carter 6-3 11.0 G Al Garner 6-1 7.0

Coach: Abe Abrami

BRETHREN CHRISTIAN

P Name Ht. Avg. F Reggie Davis 6-4 7.5 F Scott Thomas 6-3 13.6 C Andy Brown 6-5 7.5 G Seth Carey 5-11 8.1 G Richard Mendoza 5-10 9.8

Coach: Richard Thomas