By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
NILES - Despite a very physical game Tuesday evening, Brandywine's varsity basketball team took a 50-36 win over visiting South Haven in non-conference action, to improve its record to 4-4 on the season.
Slapping, scratching, shoving and pushing were a few of the obstacles the Bobcats were able to overcome while facing a very fast Rams team.
Brandywine took control of the game early, taking a 13-4 lead after the first quarter.
Kari Konopka had four points in the first for the Bobcats, Katie Smallwood had two and Kalie Newman added five with the help of a three-pointer.
Freshman Emily Low was brought up from the JV squad for Tuesday night's game and even started for the Bobcats.
The scrapping continued in the second quarter, but Brandywine again was able to stay focused and extended the lead to 27-15.
Kelli Zache scored Brandywine's first basket at the 5:25 mark. Newman, Mallory Barber, Konopka and Smallwood also contributed buckets in the period.
The Rams drew 10 fouls in the first half alone, to Brandywine's six.
South Haven had a plan to use its speed in the second half of play to make an attempt to comeback.
Mariah Hilliard came red hot for the Rams, coming out of nowhere to cause the Bobcats to turnover several times.
Hilliard attempted eight shots in the third, but only one basket and two free throws were successful.
Low opened up the scoring for Brandywine in the third when she went 1-for-2 at the line, followed by Newman's three-pointer, two points from Kelli Zache and one point from Rachel Batman on the line.
The Rams again attempted a comeback when Jasmine Martin scored two buckets in a row for her team, but Newman added two baskets in a row of her own to keep the Bobcats up 38-23.
With seven seconds left on the clock, a double foul was called on South Haven's Janelle Kasper and Brandywine's Batman. The Rams were given possession, but weren't able to pull off a shot.
In the final quarter of play, the Rams came within 10 points of a tie, 40-30 with just over five minutes to play.
Molly Hunt made two successful free throws to open the scoring in the fourth for South Haven and nailed a three-pointer, while Hilliard added a bucket and another three.
Kari Konopka had five points for Brandywine in the quarter, going 3-for-4 on the line.
Kelli Konopka, Kelli Zache and Newman also added buckets to keep the Bobcats ahead and give them the 50-36 win.
Brandywine had 17 turnovers on the night.
Newman led her Bobcats team in scoring with 15 points and six rebounds. Kari Konopka added 11 points and Smallwood had eight points, eight rebounds and five blocks.
South Haven was led by Hunt who had 12 points and Hilliard added 11.
JV game
Brandywine's JV basketball took a 36-14 victory over South Haven.
Missy Cooper led her Bobcats in scoring with 12 points. Alexa Perry had nine, Becky Modlin and Courtney Hadley added four each, Brooke Coshow, Julie Barnett and Andrea Wright all had two points and Kayla Rudlaff had one point.
South Haven's Katie McMillan and Abby Eberle both had four points each.
Brandywine will host Coloma on Thursday for a Lakeland Conference game set to begin at 7 p.m.
Brandywine 13 27 38 50
South Haven 4 15 23 36
BRANDYWINE 50
Kalie Newman 3 2 6-3 15, Connie Brant 0 0-0 0, Kendra Zache 0 0-0 0, Rachel Batman 0 2-1 1, Kelli Konopka 1 5-2 4, Katie Smallwood 4 0-0 8, Ashley Casey 0 0-0 0, Kari Konopka 4 4-3 11, Emily Low 0 2-1 1, Mallory Barber 1 2-2 4.
SOUTH HAVEN 36
Jenny Monacelli 0 0-0 0, Jane Barden 1 0-0 2, Jenna Hill 0 0-0 0, Molly Hunt 2 2 2-2 12, Mariah Hilliard 3 1 4-2 11, Kylee Nov 1 0-0 2, Ebone Wilborn 0 2-1 1, Janelle Kasper 0 0-0 0, Morgan Bierhalter 0 2-0 0, Jasmine Martin 3 4-2 8.