Brookfield ended 2024 on a sour note, as both varsity basketball teams fell in Holiday Hoops action. The Bulldogs lost to Chillicothe, 53-23, while the Lady Dogs dropped a 56-36 decision to Lathrop.

Chillicothe jumped to a 14-3 first-quarter lead in the boys contest and gradually pulled away, as the Bulldogs failed to score more than seven points in any period.
Hayden DeJong led the Dogs with 11 points, three rebounds, two assists and a steal, and Brayden Shoop (9 rebounds, 2 blocks) and Riley Hinckle (2 rebounds, 2 blocks) each scored three points.
Kendrell Carter (3 rebounds, assist, block), Phoenix Jordan, and Bryson Shoop (2 steals, assist, rebound) scored two points apiece for the Bulldogs (2-8).

Fueled by a 22-5 second quarter, Lathrop cruised to victory in the girls game.
Gracyn Beckman (3 rebounds, 2 steals, assist) scored a team-high 12 points, and Sam Sharp collected seven points, nine rebounds, three steals and two assists for the Lady Dogs.
Greenlee McCollum (5 rebounds, 3 assists) and Emma Meyer (2 rebounds) each scored six points, while Breckin Thudium (3 steals, rebound) and Maggie Bennett (3 rebounds, 2 steals) scored two points apiece.
Kierstyn Sutch added a free throw, two rebounds and a steal for the Lady Dogs (4-6).

​-- Dennis Hughes

Two-time defending state champion Jayden Keller and Mya Sackrey won individual titles, leading Brookfield to the team championship at the Battle of the Katy Trail girls wrestling tournament.
Keller won the 110-pound division with three straight pins and a 12-3 major decision in the final. Sackrey (4 pins, technical fall) won by fall in the 155 final for the Lady Dogs, who outpointed runner-up Kearney by 17.5 points for the team crown with 284.5 points.
Hadlye Sackrey: 125 (4 pins), Riley Howell: 140 (2 pins, medical forfeit) and Lilly Lindsay: 145 (2 pins, medical forfeit) each placed second, and Raylee King: 105 (2 pins) was 4th.
Kaecen Brown: 130 (2 pins, 2 major decisions) was 7th; Aubrey Wilson: 235 (2 pins) was 8th; and Makenna Munsterman: 190 (pin) was 12th.

2023 state champ Devan Parn captured the 190 title with five consecutive pins and a 10-2 major decision for the Dogs, who placed 5th in the team competition with 331.5 points - .5 behind Marceline.
Ryder Techau (4 pins, 2 decisions) took the bronze at 132 with a 6-5 decision, and Kameron Perry (5 pins, decision) was also third at 150, winning by fall.
Jace Keller: 138 (3 pins, tech fall, major decision) and Weston Linscott: 157 (4 pins, major decision) were both 8th; Ryder Cochenour: 113 (2 pins, decision) was 10th; John Foster: 120 (2 pins, major decision, decision) was 11th; Blayde Lindsay: 144 (3 pins, major decision) was 12th; and Jaden Kyle: 165 (pin, 2 decisions, major decision) and Jackson Wattenbarger: 285 (3 pins, medical forfeit) were both 19th.

-- Dennis Hughes

For the second straight night, a nightmarish fourth quarter cost Brookfield, and South Shelby took advantage with a 46-39 comeback win.
Paced by Phoenix Jordan's 21 points - including three treys, the Bulldogs led 39-28 at the end of three periods and appeared to be well on their way to victory. However, the "wheels came off" in a disastrous final eight minutes, in which the Dogs attempted just seven shots - converting none, missed two free throws and committed eight turnovers. The fortuitous Rams capitalized with an 18-0 run.
Jordan added five rebounds, an assist and a steal, while Kendrell Carter (6 rebounds, 2 assists) scored five points, and Riley Hinckle (2 rebounds, steal) and Hayden DeJong (7 rebounds, 2 assists, steal, block) each netted four points.
Bryson Shoop (2 rebounds, steal) added three points; Brayden Shoop (4 rebounds, steal) had two points; and Ross Ehrich hsd four rebounds and an assist for the Bulldogs (2-7).

The Lady Birds jumped out to a 17-8 first-quarter lead and cruised to 53-21 victory against Brookfield in the opener.
Sam Sharp (5 rebounds, 4 steals, assist) scored 10 points to lead the Lady Dogs, who entered the game winning four of their previous five games.
Greenlee McCollum (4 rebounds) scored four points, while Maggie Bennett (2 rebounds, 2 assists) had three points, and Emma Sensenich (4 rebounds) and Gracyn Beckman (3 rebounds, steal) each had two points. Breckin Thudium collected three rebounds, an assist and steal for the Lady Dogs (4-5).

​-- Dennis Hughes

Hunter Gray scored a game-high 17 points, guiding Brookfield past South Shelby, 43-39, in JV boys basketball action.
Gray scored seven points in the deciding 4th quarter, as Brookfield rallied from a four-point deficit, outpointing the Cardinals, 18-10. The Bulldogs had earlier wiped away a seven-point Cards' lead in the 2nd period, knotting the game at 21-21 at the half.
Alex Bennett scored 10 points, and Brock McLaury added seven points. Coldon Parrent had four points; Colton Pfeiffer had three points; and Wyatt Garber chipped in a pair of free throws for the Bulldogs.

-- Dennis Hughes

Rozlyn Severa collected 12 points, five steals and four rebounds, and Kailynn Miller had nine points, 11 rebounds, four steals and a block in Brookfield's season-ending 29-25 loss to Putnam County. It was the Lady Dogs' second straight narrow defeat.
Abbie Boley (7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, block) and Kaylee VanWagoner (assist, rebound) each had two points; Briley Riepe added two steals, an assist and a rebound; and Lileigh Harper had two rebounds.
Briley Riepe scored three points and had a steal in the 10-3 "B" game loss.
K'tryna Sibley had four rebounds; Lileigh Harper had two rebounds; and Luna Woody and Raelynn Hays had a rebound apiece.

The Bulldogs suffered the same fate in a 31-26 defeat.
Ronnie Sharp posted eight points, five rebounds, five steals, two assists and two blocks, while Braydon Hicks (8 rebounds, 4 steals) and Calvin Sensenich (rebound) each scored six points, and Shelden Clark (2 rebounds, 2 steals) added four points for the Bulldogs.Trenton Bunnell had two points, two rebounds, a steal and a block, and Bronson Burns added a rebound.
Tanner Kennison (4 rebounds, steal) scored three points, while Calvin Sensenich (steal, block) scored two points, and Trace Knowles (rebound, assist) had a free throw in the "B" game. Bentlee Asher (rebound) and Bronson Burns (block) each had three steals; Isaac Adams and Braxton Knaus (2 steals) each had two rebounds; and Bentley Bendure, Xander Wright (rebound) and Nathaniel Burns each had a steal.
Tanner Kenison (3 rebounds, steal) scored two points in the "C" game. Braxton Knaus had five rebounds; Bentley Bendure had two rebounds, a steal and a block; and Seth Burton (steal), Isaac Adams (block) and Nathaniel Burns (steal) each had a rebound.

-- Dennis Hughes

Maggie Bennett and Emree Littrell ignited an explosive second quarter, leading Brookfield to a 40-19 victory against Schuyler County.
Over two minutes into the second period and the game tied, 5-5, Littrell hit on a free throw and added a pair of baskets, prompting a Lady Rams' timeout. Bennett took over with a free throw and four straight buckets, and Littrell followed with a trey, as the duo combined for 16 unanswered points and a 21-5 Brookfield lead. The Lady Dogs led 25-7 at the break and cruised in the second half.
Bennett (6 rebounds, 2 steals) finished with a game-high 15 points, and Littrell (team-high 5 steals) had nine points.
Greenlee McCollum (6 rebounds, assist, steal) scored four points; Breckin Thudium (3 rebounds, assist, block) added three points; and Haven Stufflebean (steal), Emma Meyer (4 rebounds, 2 steals), Milee McCollum (2 rebounds) and Shayne Lumsden (rebound) each scored two points. Sam Sharp (4 rebounds, 4 steals, 2 assists) added a free throw, while Gracyn Beckman (assist, block) recorded a team-high seven rebounds, and Jerzi Fields had four rebounds, an assist and a steal for the Lady Dogs (4-4).

The Bulldogs were felled once again by a foul quarter, as the Rams went on to a 56-39 win.
The Dogs kept the game close into the fourth quarter and trailed only 41-36 with 4:00 minutes remaining. But the Rams scored 15 unanswered points, holding Brookfield scoreless until a Riley Hinckle three in the final seconds.
Hayden DeJong (6 rebounds, 3 assists, steal) led the Bulldogs with 13 points, while Phoenix Jordan (4 rebounds, assist) had 11 points, and Hinckle (3 rebounds, 2 assists) added six points.
Brayden Shoop (4 rebounds) had four points; Bryson Shoop (4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks) had three points; and Kendrell Carter (6 rebounds, assist) added two points for the Bulldogs (2-6).

​-- Dennis Hughes

Trenton took advantage of Brookfield's cold shooting night, easing to a 42-29 win.
The Lady Dogs, who shot just 21% for the game, scored a combined eight points in the second and fourth quarters.
Greenlee McCollum (3 rebounds, 2 steals) led the Lady Dogs with 10 points, and Gracyn Beckman (3 rebounds, assist) added eight points.
Sam Sharp collected five points, four steals, three assists and three rebounds, and Emma Meyer (3 assists, 2 steals, rebound) and Kierstyn Sutch (rebound) each hit treys. Breckin Thudium (steal) pulled down a team-high eight rebounds, and Maggie Bennett had three boards for the Lady Dogs (3-4).

The Bulldogs were derailed in the nightcap, as Trenton shot 54% from the floor en route to a 67-55 victory.
Brookfield led, 24-18, midway through the second quarter when Trenton began to rally, managing a one-point halftime advantage. Trenton pushed the margin to seven points, but the 'Dogs fought back to within one, 37-36, in the third quarter. However, Trenton increased the lead back to seven points by the end of the period and gradually pulled away in the final eight minutes.
Phoenix Jordan recorded 21 points, seven rebounds, two assists and two steals, and Hayden DeJong contributed 14 points, three rebounds, three assists and three steals.
Riley Hinckle (2 steals) drilled three treys for nine points, while Bryson Shoop (4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals) scored seven points, and Brayden Shoop (5 rebounds, 2 steals, assist) added four points for the Bulldogs (2-5).

​-- Dennis Hughes

Brookfield jumped on Trenton early and cruised to a 45-32 victory in boys JV basketball action.
Alex Bennett and Hunter Gray each scored 10 points, and Colton Pfeiffer added eight points for the Bulldogs, who built an 11-4 first-quarter lead and led by 11 points at the half.
Brock McLaury scored five points, Coldon Parrent scored four points, and Jaxon Sibley, Wyatt Garber, Ky'Ree Jordan and Gage Hall-Wells each chipped in with two points.

-- Dennis Hughes

Brookfield swept past East Buchanan and Plattsburg in two sets of dual matches. The Bulldogs beat East Buch, 53-22 and Plattsburg, 41-36, and the Lady Dogs knocked off both teams, 60-0 and 46-15, respectively.
Jace Keller and Jaden Kyle won both their matches by fall, and Kameron Perry won both by technical fall. Ryder Cochenour (2 forfeits), Ryder Techau (pin, forfeit), Devan Parn (forfeit, pin) and Jackson Wattenbarger (pin, forfeit) also won both matches.
Blayde Lindsay (pin) and Weston Linscott (pin) won their matches against East Buch. James LaBelle won two extra matches by fall.
Raylee King (forfeit, major decision), Jayden Keller (pin, forfeit), Megan LaBelle (2 forfeits), Hadlye Sackrey (pin, forfeit), Kaecen Brown (2 forfeits), Riley Howell (2 forfeits), Lilly Lindsay (pin, forfeit) and Mya Sackrey (2 forfeits) each won both matches, while Payslie Alexander and Makenna Munsterman won their matches against East Buch by forfeit.

​-- Dennis Hughes

Trenton rallied to upend Brookfield, 26-23, in an exciting and competitive contest.
Kailynn Miller posted a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds, and Rozlyn Severa recorded eight points, eight rebounds, three assists, three steals and a block for the Lady Dogs, who led throughout the game before succumbing to foul trouble and an 11-4 Trenton run in the final six minutes.
Abbie Boley added two points and three rebounds; Kaylee VanWagoner had two steals, an assist and a rebound; and Brylie Riepe had two steals and two rebounds.

Ronnie Sharp collected eight points, five rebounds and two steals in the Bulldogs 34-17 loss to Trenton.​
Shelden Clark (2 rebounds, steal) scored four points; Braydon Hicks (4 rebounds, assist, steal) scored three points; and Layne Hoerrmann added two points, three steals and an assist.
Trenton Bunnell hauled down four rebounds, and Bentle Asher had one rebound.
Calvin Sensenich (4 rebounds), Brayden Ehrich (2 rebounds, steal), Xander Wright (3 rebounds) and Bronson Burns each scored two points in the "B" team's 17-8 defeat.
Trace Knowles (steal) and Bentlee Asher each secured two rebounds, while Bentley Bendure had two steals, and Seth Burton and Tanner Kenison each had one steal. Braxton Knaus added a rebound.

-- Dennis Hughes