Scooter completes dream (03/14/06)

Three years ago Kevin Bruggeman stood in his driveway.

It was his graduation party. There was a game of “H-O-R-S-E” being played.

One of the participants was his brother, Scott, barely out of the eighth grade. Kevin could see it already.

“He’s going to be better than me,” he said, pointing to the younger brother most call Scooter.

“I know he’s got a harder work ethic than me,” added Kevin, Jay County’s record holder for single-season 3-pointers with 78, in a phone interview Monday. “He could dribble the ball. He’s a better ball-handler than me, much better. I thought if he worked on his shot a little more, he’d be very, very very, hard to guard.”

Which brother is better is subjective, a question of perception. But three years later, the younger brother has realized the dream which barely slipped through the elder’s fingers.

Kevin and fellow senior Cameron Hummel were the leaders on the 2003 Jay County squad which broke through for the school’s first sectional title since the inception of class basketball in 1996. And they didn’t stop there.

Not expected by some to do much after a tumultuous season, those Patriots defeated New Prairie in the regional semifinal at NorthWood and returned to take on all-state candidate James Hardy — he’s now a wide receiver at IU — for the championship. They trailed by seven with just over a minute to play, but rallied back with Cameron and Kevin leading the way.

They got within three points, 12 seconds left, one chance to tie the game. Kevin rolled around a Brent Willmann screen and launched a 3-point shot, but it got partially blocked and fell short of the rim.

So when Scott went to the free-throw line eight times in the final minute of Saturday’s regional finale, it wasn’t a new feeling for his parents Jim and Alice. But the result was eight made shots, and a team-high 18 points as Jay County won its first boys basketball regional crown in school history.

“It was just unbelievable,” said Jim. “I just wish everybody from Jay County could have experienced that feeling that I had. You work and work and work for years and you dream of that situation, and by golly, there it is.”

They both recalled how heartbroken Kevin was after missing his final shot — which would have been his sixth 3-pointer of the game.

“It was like, darn, it would have been nice if it had gone in,” said Jim. “But just to get that far along in the tournament was a great experience.

“Then to have this opportunity with Scott, and the whole team, is just great.”

Kevin wasn’t able to attend Saturday’s championship, but his parents called when it was over.

“Undescribable,” he said of how he felt when he got that call, ironically using the same word Scott uttered after the game. “It was awesome. I couldn’t believe it. The first time in school history. It was amazing. I’m happy for him.”

He guarantees he’ll be in Lafayette this week, watching his brother play for a berth in the state finals.

Scott remembers watching Kevin play. The sectional wins over Bellmont, Norwell and Peru came first, then the trip north for the day of regional action.

“That was unreal,” he said. “It was awesome watching him play and it was tough watching him lose.

“To see them that close and then not make it and how broken they were ... I think all of us remember that time. I know coach reminded us of so many experiences of coming so close and losing. We just didn’t want that to happen.”

And Scott has been a big reason it didn’t.

Senior Tyler Rigby poured in 23 points in the sectional opener, and the Patriots have won because they play as a team. But if an MVP had to be chosen, the junior point guard would be it.

Scott hadn’t been much of an offensive threat during the regular season, quietly averaging about seven points a game. Then he had a chance to win the sectional semifinal game against Tipton. He missed. He got the rebound, and missed again.

Since then, he has been Jay County’s heart and soul.

“We knew what he was capable of,” said JCHS coach Craig Teagle, who has coached both brothers throughout their careers. “I tell all my coaching friends I think I’ve got one of the best point guards in the area. He’s just capable of so many things.”

Scott scored all of the team’s eight points in overtime against Tipton, including the game-winning shot with just three seconds left. He also had team bests of seven rebounds and six assists.

He added nine points and four assists in the sectional championship win over Mississinewa. Against Tippecanoe Valley in the regional semifinal round Saturday, he went 9-of-11 from the foul line, scored 11 points and dished out five assists.

Finally there were his 18 points and game-sealing free throws with the regional title on the line.

While they have helped lead the program to new levels of success, the coach says they couldn’t be more different.

“Personality wise, they’re almost completely opposite,” Teagle said. “Kevin was really laid back, just really had a calm demeanor. He’s a kid that when he was first coming up, you weren’t sure he was that in love or that passionate about basketball ... As he became a junior, it just seemed like it got sparked.”

“Scott is almost the opposite. He’s intense. He’s just got a passion from when I had him in camp eight years ago. He’s always had that fire and that desire. He wants to lead.”

Having an older brother who has been there, passing on advice, hasn’t hurt.

“He just tells me to give it everything you’ve got, just enjoy the moment,” said Scott. “He’s definitely helped me out along the way.”

Their parents say they feel blessed to have had the chance to watch their boys — and daughter Jamie, who holds the single season 3-point record for the JCHS girls team and was on a pair of sectional championship winners — have such success. They know there are plenty of others who have made it possible for Scott, Kevin and their teammates.

“Those guys who are at practice every day and don’t get on the floor work as hard as all the other boys,” Jim said.

Alice credits Teagle with developing both teams, and the players for having the right attitude to attain success.

“I think the reason with Kevin’s team especially was everyone knew their role,” she said. “Teagle does such a good job of letting those boys know their role ... and they accepted it.

“With Scott’s team, they’re just unique because there is no superstar. If one isn’t doing well, another one seems to step up.”

Acknowledging their differences, the brothers shared one outstanding quality Teagle appreciates. They were/are both coachable.

“I feel fortunate to coach two kids like that,” said Teagle. “Both of them have kind of epitomized what we want Jay County basketball to be all about.”[[In-content Ad]]