By STEVE MORRISON
Niles Daily Star

NILES – Host Brandywine came out fired up to upset the Bridgman Bees in Class C District competition Monday evening.

Storming back from a 12-point deficit, the Bobcats nearly pulled off their goal before succumbing to the Bees 49-44.

The Bobcats outscored Bridgman 22-15 in the final quarter, closing the deficit to three points twice, before some clutch free throw shooting, a lay in and a block by Bee’s center Parker Mojsiejenko sealed the deal to wrap up the Bridgman victory.

Turnovers plagued the Bobcat assault.

The Bobcats, despite nine opening quarter turnovers, managed to forge an 8-7 lead during the first eight-minute period.

While his mates played aggressive defense, Lance Prescott scored all eight points of the quarter for the hosts. Prescott’s 3- pointer, with 4:39 left on the clock were the first points of the game. Both teams had a hard time getting the ball into the cylinder.

Bridgman answered the call offensively in a second quarter with an 18-5 surge that proved to be the difference in the outcome of the game. Cameron Reeves rifled in four of his six treys to thwart the Bobcat defense. Reeves had 17 of Bridgman’s 25 points of the first half.

Prescott had all but two of the Bobcats’ points in the half.

The two teams matched each other with nine apiece in the third quarter.

Then Brandywine went on a run, realizing that it was win or say good-bye to the season.
Austin Searles ripped a three to get the hosts inside of 10 points down (34-25). The Bobcats attacked the Bees with a full-court press and things started to sway in favor of the home team.

After Corey Luhrsen made a free throw, Prescott’s drive and bucket after a Bees’ turnover narrowed the deficit to 34-28.

Prescott went 3-of-4 at the line to bring the Bobcats within five (36-31).

Then the Brandywine faithful smelled an upset in the making as Prescott drained two more from the charity stripe to make it 36-33.

After Michael Kamp’s two free throws boosted the Bees lead to 38-33, Cody Udell’s drive from the right baseline led to a swift bucket and brought the Bobcats back to within three.

Mojsiejenko’s three-point play, a bucket accompanying a free throw, gave the Bees some breathing room with a 41-35 lead.

The foul on Udell was his fifth of the evening, forcing him from the game.

Mojsiejenko’s block of a Luhrsen shot sent the ball in the opposite direction.

In answer to a picturesque 3-pointer by Brandywine’s Joe Godfrey to make it 46-41, Mojsiejenko laid in two more to help the Bees finish off Brandywine.

The season has played some cruel tricks on the Bobcats. Losing center Jacob Frazier and Jesse McCombs to season-ending injuries, plus an extended loss of time for Udell from a leg problem curtailed their 2-0 beginning on the campaign.

The Bobcats have a strong nucleus of young players coming back for next year including Prescott, Searles, Aaron Marquardt, Frazier, Luhrsen, Godfrey and Mykal Toxopeus, with some help from the junior varsity and freshmen on the horizon.

Brandywine coach Nathan Knapp looked back on the game as a building block for the future.

“The kids played hard,’ he commented. “We talked to them about playing that way all year long. It’s a sense of urgency. We have to find that. We always play good at the end of the game. We have to find a sense of urgency at the beginning of the year. Tonight they understood; it’s do or die. They started working harder, and it showed tonight.”

BRIDGMAN 49
Cameron Magro 0 0-0 0, Mark Haukereid 2 0-0 4, Zane Copeland 0 1-2 1, Josiah Badger 0 0-0 0, Cameron Reeves 7 1-3 21, Michael Kamp 3 2-4 8, Conner Magro 0 4-4 4, Parker Mojsiejenko 3 5-7 11. TOTALS: 15 13-20 49
BRANDYWINE 44
Jeremy Zimmerman 0 0-0, Corey Luhrsen 0 1-2 1, Cody udell 2 0-0 4, Mykal Toxopeus  0 1-2 1, Lance Prescott 8 7-11 25, Joe Godfrey 1 0-0 3, Austin Searles 2 0-2 6 Mikeal Schoenleber 1 0-0 2. TOTALS: 15 9-17 44

Bridgman 7 25 34 49
Brandywine 8 13 22 44
3-point baskets: Bridgman 6 (Reeves 6), Brandywine 5 (Prescott 2, Austin Searles 2, Joe Godfrey 1). Total fouls: Bridgman 14, Brandywine 15. Fouled out: Udell(BW). Varsity records: Bridgman 17-4, Brandywine 5-16