By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
NILES - Brandywine's varsity basketball team opened its season Tuesday evening with a 59-45 loss to the Marcellus Wildcats.
The Bobcats had 26 turnovers in the game and went down by as many as 20 points in the first half. Missed shots and rebounds were also a problem for Brandywine, which shot 35 percent.
Marcellus opened the scoring just three seconds after tip off when Skyler Perry assisted Andrew Nofsinger on a bucket and Perry scored one of his own on the Wildcats' next possession to post a 4-0 lead.
Brandywine's Justin Ely hit a basket, but the Bobcats wouldn't score again until the 1:26 mark.
Marcellus went on an 11-0 run before Adam Prescott nailed a three-pointer to wake Brandywine's scoring back up.
Another bucket by Prescott at the 1:18 mark brought the score to 15-7, but a made free throw and a three-pointer by the Wildcats' Andrew Ringle made the first period score of 19-7.
That lead would only extend in the second for Marcellus.
Ely, Frazier and Matt Beaver were the only players to score for the Bobcats in the quarter.
Ely nailed a three with 5:58 on the clock, Frazier went 3-for-3 on the free throw line and Beaver made a basket with 17 seconds left.
Marcellus racked up 15 additional points, bringing the halftime score to 34-15.
In the second half, the tables turned as Brandywine outscored the Wildcats in the third, 15-13, and in the fourth, 17-12, but the lead in the first half helped Marcellus stay on top and claim the non-conference victory.
Ely was the only player to score in double digits for the Bobcats, bringing in 11 points.
Prescott scored eight and Billy McDonald, Frazier and Beaver each had five.
Leading Marcellus was Ringle with 12 points, Garrett Smaltzer had 11 and Nofsinger and Derek Turtle both added 10 each.
Brandywine will return to action on Tuesday, Dec. 13 at River Valley. Tip off is set for 7:30 p.m.
Junior Varsity game
Brandywine's JV basketball team suffered a 62-42 loss to Marcellus Tuesday.
Leading scorer for the Bobcats was Danny Williams with 16 points
Jake Harris and Doug Rockett both added six points, all from three-pointers.
Brandywine…45
Marcellus…59
BRANDYINE
Justin Ely 2 2 2-1 11, Adam Prescott 1 2 0-0 8, Matt Wieger 1 0-0 2, Cory Barber 0 0-0 0, Billy McDonald 1 1 0-0 5, Caleb Frazier 1 6-3 5, D.J. Elrod 1 0-0 2, Billy Bussey 1 0-0 2, Chris Casey 2 0-0 4, Kyle Low 0 5-1 1 , Matt Beaver 2 12-1 5, Ryan Hartman 0 0-0 0
MARCELLUS
Andrew Nofsinger 2 2 0-0 10, Skyler Perry 2 3-0 4, Andy Ringle 1 2 6-4 12, Garrett Smaltzer 5 2-1 11, Alex Yeomans 1 0-0 2, Travis Perry 2 0-0 4, Asa Jones 1 0-0 2, Derek Turtle 5 0-0 10, Adam Shreve 0 2-0 0, Pierce Lansberry 0 0-0 0, Ryan Kealy 2 0-0 4
Three-point baskets: Ely, 2 (B), Prescott 2 (B), McDonald 1 (B); Nofsinger 2 (M), Ringle 2 (M). Total fouls: Brandywine 14, Marcellus 17; Fouled out: None. Varsity records:Brandywine 0-1, Marcellus 1-0