NILES — In the past week of practices, the Brandywine boys basketball team spent its time in defense mode.

The work paid off as the Bobcats picked up a 72-49 BCS Athletic Conference Red Division win over visiting Berrien Springs with a standout third-quarter performance Friday night.

From the tipoff, the two teams played physical and quick, and despite scoring 11 points, Brandywine still found itself trailing the Shamrocks by three points at the end of the opening quarter.

In the second quarter, the Bobcats added 15 more points, while holding Berrien Springs to only eight. The game was still a little too close for comfort at halftime for veteran coach Nathan Knapp.

Brandywine came out in the third quarter and turned up the intensity as Kendall Chrismon scored nine points, and Shane Brown, who added six points, pumped up the team and the crown with a dunk.

The 29-point quarter gave Brandywine the lead, as the Bobcat defense allowed Berrien Springs only 13 points.

“The kids came through,” Knapp said. “It was a great week of practice. We showed up tonight. Berrien was tough. We worked hard the first few quarters. It just didn’t go our way, but you put the pressure on and eventually something’s going to give.”

Also helping the Bobcats was Berrien Springs getting into foul trouble with six minutes remaining in the second quarter.

“We attacked the offensive lanes a lot better,” Knapp said. “As a coach, it’s my responsibility to get them playing hard and doing the things they are supposed to do. We put constant pressure on the offensive glass, and they got in foul trouble, too, because we were attacking the basket.”

Brandywine finished the night 18-of-36 at the free throw line.

“That’s just 18 points you leave off the board,” Knapp said. “I know rarely you see a high school team shoot 100 percent, but you want to be in the high 80s to be a good free throw shooting team. We do well at practice.”

Girls Basketball

The Brandywine girls basketball team continued its undefeated run after defeating the Shamrocks 56-20.

The Bobcats started with an early nine-point lead after the first quarter. In the second quarter, a strong defensive effort held Berrien Springs to a single basket. In the third quarter, Brandywine scored 21 points to blow the game wide open.

Underclassmen Cortney Bates and Olivia Laurita came off the bench to aid in the Brandywine victory. Laurita suffered a finger injury in the first scrimmage of the year and has been out a couple of months.

“She is a sophomore, getting experience and doing a nice job,” said Brandywine coach Josh Hood.

Also, Malikiyyah Abdullah looked to be back at her full strength.

“It was nice to have Malikiyyah back,” Hood said. “She’s kind of sat a couple of games or a game and didn’t play much last game. We did a nice job of finding her, too. It’s nice to have Malikiyyah’s scoring back.”

The junior finished 11 points against Berrien Springs. Seniors Zakiyyah Abdullah and Megan Schmidt each scored 13 points to lead the Bobcats.

Brandywine will spend its next week off focusing on fundamentals and improving its defense, including its boxing out and rotations.

“We are sharing the ball very well. We hit another 10 3-pointers tonight by, I think, six or seven girls,” Hood said. “When you can shoot it like that and share it and have multiple weapons, that’s a good thing.”

Hood said it was nice for the team to get a conference win to begin the second round.

“One game at a time,” Hood said. “Our focus now is just to play Bridgman. It’s a tough place to play at the Beehive.”

Brandywine will take on Bridgman next Friday at 5:45 p.m. The boys game will immediately follow at 7 p.m.