Brookfield falls to hot-shooting Phoenix in sectional final
Trending
BROOKFIELD -- Brookfield's 2025-26 season was a historic one. The Warriors won their second league title in 30 years and finished with one of the best records in program history in that same time span.
It came to a close on Thursday, however, as Brookfield was upended by Andrews Osborne Academy, 74-47, in a Division VI, Northeast 3, sectional final.
"We're the No. 4 seed and then we get into a group that brings guys in from all over the world. That's hard," Warriors coach Shawn Hammond said. "I've got guys from Masury and Brookfield who played together growing up. I'm proud of my guys the way they fought. We were undersized and they kept battling.
"That's just the way it is. They'll roll on through and we won't do anything about it, the state won't do anything about it. It's hard. I feel bad for my guys. I told them at the beginning of the year, 'Work your tails off, put yourself in a good position and you get yourself some home games.' We're not the only ones that deal with it, and I know it, but it's frustrating, because I felt like I let my guys down and I lied to them."
The visiting Phoenix came roaring out of the gates, and it was hard to stop their shooters. Andrews Osborne Academy hit 10 3-pointers in the first half, outscoring the Warriors, 48-28.
Brookfield was aggressive defensively, but there was not much it could do to slow down the Phoenix in the first half.
"We just tried to get out quicker," Hammond said. "They got 6 inches, 8 inches on every single guy we got around. They shot very well. They shot the lights out. But we were gonna match up with them. We just did what we do all year, and that's what we play in our zone."
Brookfield was led on the offensive end of the court by Rob Flynn, who had 15 points. Blake Hammond tacked on 13.
The pair of sophomores are a sign of optimism for the Warriors going forward as they look to continue the success from this season.
"We're proud of the way they played and competed all year. The best record we've had in a few years, and in the last 10 years, it's the second-best record we've had," Hammind said. "And I've got a bunch of young guys that are all coming back, so we're looking forward to that."
Brookfield's season ends with a 16-7 mark.
While it didn't end the way they wanted it to end, Hammond wants his team to remember the journey.
"They did what they were supposed to do to get a good seed. They still won a league championship, the second one in 30 years. They accomplished a lot, just this outcome here is frustrating," Hammond said. "But I think they'll look back on (the year fondly). They'll move on. There's tougher things in life that'll go on that they'll face. The journey is always a big thing.
"We're proud of them. I told them I wouldn't trade one of them, not one of them. I would take that beating again with every single guy I had on that floor. I love this group. They've been so coachable. A lot of different personalities, but so coachable and a great group of kids."
Andrews Osborne Academy will take on Campbell in a district semifinal on Monday.