By By STEVE MORRISON / Dowagiac Daily News
NILES – Riding into town with a 3-0 Red Arrow conference record (5-2 overall), the Lake Michigan Catholic Lakers girls' basketball team appeared to be ready to give the host Brandywine Bobcats a real challenge.
Such was not the case as the Lady 'Cats, who began the evening with an identical 5-2 mark, created mishap and chaos for the Lakers en route to a convincing 53-13 shellacking of the LMC squad.
Led by intense trapping and double teaming defense, the Bobcats confounded their opposition into an astounding 19 turnovers in just the first eight minutes, while shutting out the Lakers 16-0.
Carlie Newman propelled the offense in the first quarter, scoring the first three baskets on a 10-foot jumper, a twisting reverse lay-up, and a bank off the glass.
Kelsey Prestley was fouled on her 2-pointer, converting a free throw to make a three point play. Alexa Perry came off the bench to nail the first of her three 3-pointers for the night. Perry led all scorers, with 18, for the contest.
Teila Smith and Madison Pellow scored a bucket each to send the Bobcats into that huge 16-0 bulge, before LMC had a clue to what was going on.
The second quarter continued in a similar fashion. The 'Cats, true to their nickname, clawed and scratched the ball out of LMC's hands for nine more turnovers while dominating the time of possession. Morgan Smallwood and Emily Low paced the balanced Brandywine attack with two baskets apiece. Brandywine had the outcome of the game pre-determined by the half, as they were in a 31-5 stranglehold of LMC.
The Lakers didn't score their first point until 4:26 was left in the half. Their first field goal, by Sarah Spencer, came with 3:21 remaining. It was a tribute to a magnificent defensive job by the entire Bobcat unit.
The Bobcats' defense forced a remarkable 36 turnovers from their opposition.
Brandywine Coach Mark Zache was exhilarated by the performance of the Lady Bobcats.
"That was the biggest thing, tonight; our defense," he stated. "We've been working on that like crazy, as a team. It's exciting to see that. Hopefully we just keep going and get better and better. The other team (LMC) has been averaging 50-60 points a game.
"They put a ton of points on us last year," continued Zache. "They beat us pretty good there twice. It was nice to get this win tonight."
In the third frame, Perry and Newman each tossed in long bombs to lead a 12-point barrage.
Perry was a one-person show in the final eight circles of the clock. She led off with a jumper for two dropped five of six free tosses and finished off her 10-point explosion for the quarter with a smoking trey. She tallied all of the points for the hosts for the frame.
Brandywine held the ball for the final minute, choosing to avoid running up the score, in a classy manner.
Brandywine's junior varsity was down 22-10 at the half, but they staged a steady comeback to knot the score at 33-33 on a perfect three by Lauren Hopper with 1:30.
A free throw and a breakaway field goal saved LMC 36-34. Ellie Price led the Bobcats with eight points; Shawna Bromley and Morgan Antus each had six.
LMC 13
Rachel Kuehu 0 0-0 0; Kayla Walter 2 4-7 8; Casey Smart 0 0-0 0; Katelyn Schultz 0 0-0 0; Brea Osborn 0 0-0 0; Faith Lhotha 0 0-0 0; Maggie Fish 1 0-0 2; Sarah Spencer 1 1-2 3; Tracy Aronola 0 0-1 0; Sara Copi 0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 4 5-10 13
BRANDYWINE 53
Emily Low 2 0-0 4; Nicole Newman 0 0-0 0; Sam Low 0 0-0 0; Kesley Prestley 1 1-1 3; Michaela Greer 0 0-0 0; Morgan Smallwood 2 0-0 4; Alexa Perry 5 5-6 18; Teila Smith 2 1-2 5; Carlie Newman 4 1-4 11; Lauren Leonard 2 0-0 4; Madison Pellow 2 0-0 4. TOTALS: 20 8-13 53
LMC 0 5 10 13
Brandywine 16 31 43 53
3-point goals: LMC 0, Brandywine 4 (Perry 3, C. Newman). Total fouls (fouled out): LMC 12, Brandywine 13. Varsity record: LMC 5-3, Brandywine 5-2