Boys Basketball: Jimmy Braddish's 35 points carry Sandwich to first I-8 tournament title

SANDWICH — Jimmy Braddish has produced many big scoring games throughout his remarkable career at Sandwich.

This one, though, was one for the memory banks.

Braddish tallied a season-best 35 points to lead the fifth-seeded Indians to a 59-42 win over sixth-seeded Manteno in Monday's Interstate Eight Conference Tournament championship.

It's Sandwich's first tournament crown, in the final season of the current I-8 configuration.

And the Indians can thank their senior guard.

Braddish knocked down six 3-pointers, was a near perfect 13-of-14 from the free-throw line and scored 22 of his 35 points in the first half to put quite a capper on a tournament delayed several times due to weather.

His total brings Braddish to within 12 points of breaking the all-time Sandwich boys leading scoring record of 1,560 believed to be held by 1999 grad Seth Hill.

"We needed a boost because nothing was going down for us early so I decided I wanted to get us back in the game and I did that with the help of my teammates who played so well along side of me tonight," Braddish said. "I wasn't going to let this one slip away because winning our conference tournament for the first time in Sandwich history and in the last year of the conference as we all know it was a goal of ours before we started the season. We dreamed of this night and we made it come true."

Braddish received help from senior Carter Cech and junior Rex Avery with six points each, while senior Jimmy Roop added five points and a game-high 10 rebounds.

Trevor Moisant led Manteno (12-9) with 13 points.

But the Panthers just couldn't overcome a big second quarter run of the Indians and the incredible effort produced by Braddish.

"They ended up 20-of-23 from the free-throw line where Braddish was just outstanding and he was surely the difference in the contest," Manteno coach Zach Meyers said. "He has an incredible perimeter game with his shooting, but tonight he got to the basket as well. He's an amazing player and he sure showed it."

Braddish hit his first three-pointer 15 seconds in, but Manteno led 14-6 after a quarter.

After Manteno took a 16-6 lead early in the second, Braddish went wild with a trio of 3-pointers, another basket, and 5-of-6 from the free-throw line as Sandwich outscored the Panthers 23-4 to bolt out to a 29-16 lead at halftime.

Manteno cut the gap to 34-30 with 45 seconds to go in the third quarter before Braddish nailed a top-of-the-key step-back trey 10 seconds later and then put in a layup at the buzzer as the Indians went back ahead 39-30.

"We came out a little tentative and maybe the magnitude of the game got to us early," said Sandwich coach Jim Braddish. "But we settled down and Jimmy got us going and he was very determined tonight to make sure we got this one. It was a great night for our program and our school and I'm sure proud of the guys for winning our first title during the history of this tournament. It's pretty special for all of us."

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Sandwich

Jaylynn Vana scored 23 points and Josie Ness added 11 to lead the Indians (28-0, 9-0) past Manteno 57-29 on Monday to clinch the outright Interstate Eight title. Vana scored 18 points and Josie and Sarah Ness each added 12 in Sandwich's 59-38 win over Herscher on Friday.