Bobcats score 39 in opening quarter to advance to regional finals

Published 9:17 am Tuesday, March 12, 2024

By Scott Novak

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BRONSON — Junior Miley Young got the Brandywine girl basketball team rolling and senior Ellie Knapp finished the job as the top-ranked Bobcats rolled into the Division Regional championship game with an 84-23 win against Hartford at Bronson High School Monday night.

Young scored 10 of her 12 points in the opening quarter as Brandywine (23-1) scored 39 points, while holding the Huskies to three baskets.

Knapp would outscore the entire Hartford team by herself as she finished the night with a game-high 24 points, 16 of those, coming in the opening eight minutes of the contest.

“Very proud of the girls for coming out and taking care of business from the opening tip,” said veteran Brandywine Coach Josh Hood. “Anytime you can score 39 points in the opening quarter at a regional game, you are ready to play.”

The Huskies struggled to get the ball up the floor and into its offense due to the constant Brandywine pressure.

As usual, Hood kept fresh legs on the floor with constant substitutions. In all, the Bobcats played nine players in the first quarter and 13 in the second quarter as they built a 60-11 advantage by halftime.

The Huskies committed 26 turnovers in the first half.

The 49-point halftime cushion meant the entire second half was played with a running clock.

Despite that fact, and with the entire roster being able to see significant playing time in the third and fourth quarter, Brandywine was still able to add 24 points in the second half.

The 84 points is the most by the Bobcats since scoring 86 against Cassopolis two years ago.

The Bobcats will now turn their attention to Wednesday’s Division 3 Regional championship game against No. 5-ranked Kalamazoo Christian (24-1), which defeated Schoolcraft 47-30 in the first semifinal Monday night.

Brandywine and the Comets have played three common opponents this season — Dowagiac, Constantine and Schoolcraft.

The Bobcats swept the Chieftains in Lakeland Conference action 41-22 and 50-30, while Kalamazoo Christian defeated Dowagiac 43-16 after the game was tied at 10-10 at halftime.

The Comets swept all three games against Schoolcraft, winning 48-16, 44-32 and 47-30. The Bobcat defeated the Eagle 55-29.

Kalamazoo Christian won a pair of games against Constantine — 68-36 and 59-18 – while Brandywine defeated the Falcons 66-20 last Friday night to win the district championship.

“Great effort and we will be ready for the showdown for the regional championship on Wednesday versus 24-1 Kalamazoo Christian, ranked No. 5 in the state,” Hood said. “Our program takes great pride in playing for championships, and we will be ready to compete at a high-level.”

The Bobcats have been a prolific scoring team all season, but has turned it up to another level in the postseason.

Through three games, Brandywine has scored 199 points and are averaging 66 points per game.

Kalamazoo Christian has scored 179 points through its first three tournament games for an average of 59.6 points per contest.

Defensively, both team are allowing less than 30 points per game.

The Bobcats are allowing their opponents 24 per game, while the Eagle are allowing 28 points per game.

Besides Knapp and Young, Brandywine’s Lily Gill scored 13 points off the bench. In all, 12 Bobcats found their way into the box score with at least two points.

Hartford (15-9) was led by Ava Bachman’s 12 points.

The regional championship game is scheduled to tip off at 6 p.m. with the winner advancing to Tuesday’s quarterfinal contest at Fennville High School.

 

BRANDYWINE 84, HARTFORD 23

At Bronson

HARTFORD 23

Lillian Wolf 4, Lillian Price 2, Brooke Birmele 5, Abby Valdes 0, Ava Bachman 12. TOTALS: 10 2-12 23.

BRANDYWINE 84

Adeline Gill 3, Ellie Knapp 24, Karleigh Byrd 4, Adelyn Drotoz 6, Ireland Prenkert 2, Macy Pellow 2, Lexi Troup 2, Paige Krisher 0, Miley Young 12, Mackenna Price 8, Niyah Mason 0, Kadence Brumitt 4, Lily Gill 13, Brook Brumitt 4. TOTALS: 37 1-6 84.

 

Hartford                          6          11        20        23

Brandywine                 39        60        74        84

3-point baskets: Hartford 1 (Birmele 1), Brandywine 9 (Knapp 4, Drotoz 2, A. Gill 1, L. Gill 1, Young 1). Total fouls: Hartford 6, Brandywine 10. Records: Hartford 15-9, Brandywine 23-1

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