Expect Tight Battle Between East and Central Boys

There’s not much to separate the boys basketball teams from Brookfield East and Brookfield Central

After losses Tuesday, the Lancers are 9-8 and the Spartans are 9-9. Central averages about 55 points per game, according to WisSports.net, and East just more than 51.

The defensive performances are even more similar: Central has been holding its opponents to 48.9 points per game, compared with 50.6 for East.

On Friday, they’ll meet at East at 7:30 p.m., reprising the early January game won by the Spartans 43-39

“They outplayed us,” said Central coach Mark Adams. “I was a little disappointed from a standpoint that we didn’t play real well together as a team, and I thought that it had a lot to do with the outcome of the game.”

The Lancers won six consecutive games in late December, including a 22-point rout of JP Tokoto and Menomonee Falls. But the loss to East was the first of four in a row.

Junior guard Seth Mortag, a three-year varsity player, is the only Lancer in double figures at 13.3 points per game, according to WisSports.net.

Another three-year guard is Alex Wilson, who tops the team in assists. And freshman Riley LaChance is a third offensive threat who recorded 13 points and six steals in a win over Marquette earlier this year.

“It’s always been two things with our program that has allowed us to be successful,” Adams said. “When we defend and we rebound off the missed shot, we’re usually fairly successful.”

East, which is 4-6 in the Greater Metro Conference, has dropped three consecutive games. Six-foot-4-inch senior Darius Barnes leads the team in scoring at 15.7 points per game, and 6-foot-5-inch senior C.J. Gregg adds 13.5. A third senior, Andrew Raymonds, also averages double figures at 10.6.

East coach Andy Farley did not respond to interview requests.