The Brandywine girls basketball team will be in search of its seventh Class C district championship in the past eight years.

The Bobcats, who graduated all five starters from last year’s final four team, enters the tournament with a 16-4 record.

Brandywine has won five straight games and seven of its last eight contests.

The lone loss during that stretch was a 38-32 decision to arch rival Buchanan Jan. 26.

Watervliet, the host of the Class C district tournament, was 15-4 heading into tonight’s regular season finale against Bangor.

The Panthers had won 10 consecutive games before falling to perennial state powerhouse Gobles 42-40 Feb. 10.

Brandywine and Watervliet will play the second game of Monday night’s doubleheader, scheduled to begin at approximately 7:45 p.m.

New Buffalo (5-14) and Eau Claire (0-17) will meet in the opening game of the tournament at 6 p.m.

Bridgman, which received a first round bye, will take on the winner in the second semifinal at 7:45 p.m. Wednesday.

Cassopolis, which also received a first round bye, will face the Bison-Beaver winner in the first semifinal at 6 p.m.

The championship game of the tournament will be at 7 p.m. March 3. Tickets are $5 for all games and no passes will be accepted.

The Watervliet district winner will play in the Homer district against the champion of the Bronson district.

 

Class A Portage Northern

Niles (4-15) will have to figure out a way to beat Portage Central if it wants to advance past the opening round of the Class A district tournament at Portage Northern Monday.

The Vikings dropped both games against the Mustangs in SMAC West Division action this season.

Portage Central (8-9) defeated Niles 45-40 on Dec. 16 and 54-37 on Feb. 10.

The Vikings and Mustangs will open up tournament play at 5:30 p.m. Monday with Mattawan (5-14) and host Portage Northern (9-9) playing the second game of the doubleheader at approximately 7 p.m.

The winner of the Niles-Portage Central game advances to face Kalamazoo Central in the first semifinal Wednesday.

St. Joseph (15-4) will take on the winner of the Mattawan-Portage Northern game in the second semifinal at approximately 7 p.m.

The championship game is set for 7 p.m. March 3.

Tickets are $5 for all games and no passes will be accepted.