By By TOM NYHUIS / Niles Daily Star
NILES – Getting off to a good start is key to winning games.
That just hasn't been happening for the Brandywine girls' varsity basketball team.. On the other hand, Buchanan has had the fortune of getting that good start.
Thursday night was no exception as the Lady Bucks controlled the first quarter, shooting 47 percent from the field, and went on to a 53-39 Lakeland Conference win over the Bobcats.
"It's killing us," Brandywine coach Mark Zache said after the loss. "Those turnovers, its has happened the last couple of game but we have been able to dig out of it. Tonight we dug ourselves too big of a hole out there. That hurt us. We played them hard for three quarters it was just that first quarter. You can't do that against a team like that, you are in trouble."
The Lady Bucks outscored Brandywine 21-6 in the first quarter and extended the lead to 24-6 two minutes into the second period.
"We had a fast start and then slowed down a little bit," Buchanan coach Bill Weaver said of his teams effort. "Than we had a couple of spurts and let them come back but they never quit. Brandywine kept coming after us. It was a tough game."
From that point in the game the Bobcats went on a 10-4 run to end the first half 28-16.
It was another hot start by Buchanan to open the second half as the Lady Bucks went on a 9-2 run in the first five minutes of the third quarter for a 37-18 advantage. Sparked by Katie Backus' five quick points to start the second half, it looked as if the Lady Bucks had the victory easily in hand.
The fourth quarter was played evenly as each team put up 11 points in the final eight minutes.
Three Buchanan players hit double figures – Hayley Cashier with a game-high 17. Backus pumping in 14 and Emily Ross added 12 – as the Bucks improve their record to 13-5 overall and 9-4 in LAC action.
Nine Brandywine players scored in the game with Katie Smallwood sinking eight and Kelli Konopka and Nicole Newman each adding seven.
Buchanan controlled the boards. As a team the Bucks held a 40-29 advantage with Cashier racking in 15, Anna Callahan pulled in 12 and Backus grabbing 10 off the glass.
Brandywine will close out the regular season schedule next Tuesday as they will host Lake Michigan Catholic before getting ready to host the district tournament the following week.
Buchanan will travel to Lawton on Tuesday for a non-league contest before winding out their season on the road at River Valley on Thursday.
JV basketball
The Buchanan junior varsity team fought for a 46-35 win as the Bucks' Alexis Lennox pumped in 18 points for the victors. Adrianna Rudlaff scored nine to lead the Bobcats.
BUCHANAN 53
Hillary Faulkner 2 0-0 5, Emily Ross 5 1-2 12, Katie Backus 4 4-8 14, Anna Callahan 1 1-2 3, Hayley Cashier 7 3-6 17, Elizabeth Hein 0 0-0 0, Julia LaBounty 0 0-0 0, Lindsey Borr 1 0-0 2. Totals 20 9-18 53
BRANDYWINE 39
Emily Low 0 0-0 0, Kendra Zache 1 0-0 2, Kelli Konopka 2 3-4 7, Katie Smallwood 2 4-6 8, Kari Konopka 0 4-6 4, Nicole Newman 3 0-1 6, Missy Cooper 0 2-2 2, Brooke Allen 1 1-2 3, Alexa Perry 1 0-0 2, Julie Barnett 0 0-0 0, Mallory Barber 2 0-0 4. Totals 12 14-21, 39
Buchanan 21 28 42 53
Brandywine 6 16 28 39
3-point goals: Faulkner (B)U), Ross (BU), Backus (BU) 2, Newman (BW). Total fouls: Buchanan 17, Brandywine 16. Records: Buchanan 13-5, 9-4 LAC; Brandywine 8-11, 4-10 LAC. JV score: Buchanan 47 (Alexis Lenox 18), Brandywine 35 (Adrianna Rudlaff 9)