Bobcats roll into D3 Regional title game with 77-43 win over Union City

Published 7:45 am Wednesday, March 6, 2024

By Scott Novak

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WATERVLIET — On “Super Tuesday,” the Brandywine boys basketball team was spectacular.

The No. 1-ranked Bobcats successfully began defense of their Division 3 Regional championship with an easy 77-43 victory over Union City at Watervliet High School.

Brandywine was able to use its quickness and defensive pressure to overwhelm the Chargers from the start. The Bobcats, who struggled offensively in winning the district title last Friday night, was hitting on all cylinders against Union City.

The Bobcats (22-3) scored a quick seven points forcing the Chargers into an early time out. Most of those points came from inside the paint as Brandywine showed off its speed driving to the hole and scoring.

Brandywine would score the first 13 points of the contest before Union City found the bottom of the net.

“It was huge to start off fast,” Brandywine Coach Nathan Knapp said. “One, it gave us confidence and our defense thrives when we are clicking at both ends. Second, it was nice for the kids so they didn’t have to think about the offensive end. When our boys are confident and feel good they are tough to beat and their defense is always a constant so even if we are off shooting we still can win games with our team defense.”

Nyen Goins, who had the lone 3-pointer of the opening quarter, led the charge with nine points, while Byron Linley added eight points as the Bobcats opened up a 23-8 lead after the first eight minutes of the contest.

Brandywine would never be challenged by the Chargers the rest of the night.

The Bobcats spread the wealth around offensively in the second quarter as Jaremiah Palmer had six points, while brother Jamier Palmer and Robert Whiting both finished with four points as Brandywine increased its advantage to 42-16 heading into halftime.

The Bobcats opened the second half the same way it did the game as they scored 23 points in the third quarter to take a 65-32 lead into the fourth.

Union City (16-10) was better offensively to start the second half, but there was no way for the Chargers to climb out of the huge hole they dug for themselves.

Jaremiah Palmer had a huge quarter as he scored 12 of his game-high 24 points.

With the game in hand, Brandywine Head Coach Nathan Knapp emptied his bench and the Bobcats began thinking about Thursday night’s regional championship game against No. 6-ranked Schoolcraft (22-3), which defeated host Watervliet 61-50 in the second semifinal.

Brandywine and Schoolcraft where scheduled to play during the regular season, but the game was canceled due to weather and never rescheduled.

“Thursday’s night is going be tough, but we are going to do the things we do,” Knapp said. They have two great players we are going to have to defend.  Shane [Rykse] is a heck of a player and he will keep us honest, and not gambling all night. Plus, with the two guards we really have to buckle down and stop penetration and not allow wide open shots from kick outs. Going to be a fun and exciting game.”

Besides Jaremiah’s offensive output, the Bobcats also got 13 points from Linley and 12 points from Goins. Jamier Palmer and Whiting both finished with seven points.

Union City was led by Aiden Decker’s 12 points. Jeremy Zehr finished with 11 points.

 

BRANDYWINE 77, UNION CITY 43

At Watervliet

BRANDYWINE 77

Jamier Palmer 7, Nylen Goins 12, Robert Whiting 7, Jaremiah Palmer 24, Will Hubbard 2, Byron Linley 13, Brock Dye 0, Jaytee Smith 4, Emerson Gogley 4, Ethan Adamczyk 4. TOTALS: 32 9-11 77.

UNION CITY 43

Brenden Snyder 5, Jeremy Zehr 11, Eli Payne 0, Aiden Decker 12, Jason Shoop 8, Rick Austin 7. TOTALS: 18 1-4 43.

 

Brandywine                 23        42        65        77

Union City                   8          16        32        43

3-point baskets: Brandywine 4 (Goins 2, Whiting 1, Linley 1), Union City 6 (Zehr 3, Shoop 2, Snyder 1). Total fouls: Brandywine 7, Union City 7. Records: Brandywine 22-3, Union City 16-10

 

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