Brandywine girls basketball coach Josh Hood was happy to see Michaela Hartline hit two free throws with six seconds left in Friday’s game against Comstock.

It was one of the few times that the Bobcats were successful at the line in a 48-44 BCS Athletic Conference win over the Colts.

Strong rebounding and defense helped Brandywine overcome 12-of-27 free throw shooting.

“Wow,” said Hood when asked about his reaction after Hartline made her two free throws. “It felt like a relief.”
Brandywine, which won its 69th straight home game, also struggled from the field. The Bobcats shot only 30-percent (16-of-54) from the field.

“We’ve got great shooters,” Hood said. “The one thing we’ve got going right now is that there’s a lot of pressure surrounding this program. There’s always the expectation that we’re going to shoot a bunch of threes and make them, make free throws and always win convincingly.

“We build a schedule this year to face adversity. These battles are going to help us in the postseason. At the end of the day, we have to celebrate beating a really good team in Comstock.”

A 16-4 run in the third quarter into the fourth gave Brandywine a 38-26 lead with 7:21 left in the game. Makena Bowen’s rebound basket capped the run.

Comstock was able to pull within 41-36 with 2:55 left in the game, but Brandywine regained the momentum and went up by eight after getting a 3-pointer from Alyssa Bolen with 2:01 left in the game. Michaela Hartline’s two free throws gave the hosts a 48-41 lead with six seconds remaining in the contest.

The Bobcats outrebounded the Colts, 35-30, and forced Comstock into 23 turnovers.

“We thought when we watched film that we had a size advantage inside and an athletic advantage,” Hood said. “We thought we could get some second chance points.”

Michaela Hartline scored 13 points and grabbed eight rebounds for the Bobcats. Jaleesa Garner added 10 points, while Makenna Hartline pulled down 14 rebounds to go with her six points and four steals.

“I thought Jaleesa Garner handling the ball and getting to the rim was phenomenal tonight,” Hood said. “Alyssa Bolen hit a huge three in the fourth quarter. She’s such a weapon off the bench for us.”

BRANDYWINE 48, COMSTOCK 44

At Brandywine

COMSTOCK 44

Daisy Ansel 12, Miranda Cannon 2, Ahkyla Blakely 6, Katie Leaders 10, Caylin Lopez 12, Selena Alvarado 2, Arreona Blakely 0, Marissa Vandyk 0. TOTALS: 17 5-6 44.

BRANDYWINE 48

Makenna Hartline 6, Michaela Hartline 13, Makena Bowen 4, Jaleesa Garner 10, Emily Erwin 8, Rachael Szilagyi 1, Alyssa Bolen 6, Mia Stella 0. TOTALS: 16 12-27 48

 

Comstock        11       22       26       44

Brandywine   14       22       36       48

3-point baskets: Comstock 5 (Ansel 4, Lopez), Brandywine 4 (Erwin 2, Bolen 2). Total fouls (fouled out): Brandywine 10 (none), Comstock 21 (Leaders). Shooting: Comstock 17-of-45 for 38-percent, Brandywine 16-of-54 for 30-percent. Rebounding: Comstock 30 (Lopez 7), Brandywine 35 (Makenna Hartline 14). Turnovers: Comstock 23, Brandywine 10. Varsity records: Comstock 1-1, Brandywine 2-0.