Brandywine's Dustin Bell scored 18 points to help the Bobcats defeat River Valley 65-48. It was the second win of the week against the Mustangs. (Daily Star photo/ERIKA PICKLES)

By ERIKA PICKLES

Niles Daily Star

The Brandywine boys’ basketball team may have suffered a tough loss Friday night, but the Bobcats rolled to an easy win Saturday, capturing a 73-38 win over visiting River Valley.

This was the second game in the same week between the Mustangs and Brandywine, who also picked up the win last Tuesday, 65-48.

This was also the third game in just five days for the Bobcats, who return to action again Monday night against New Buffalo.

“We’ve got a very busy schedule right now and one of my biggest fears is that we will come out flat with so many games,” Brandywine coach Nathan Knapp said. “Today we didn’t do that. The kids responded well, especially after the tough loss to Coloma on Friday. Their heads were right where they needed to be.”

Although both teams were tied at 15 after the first period, Brandywine’s full court press, as well as an 11-0 run in the second, sparked a lead that kept the Bobcats ahead of the Mustangs for the rest of the game. Starting forward Cody Udell left the game with an ankle injury halfway through the second, but Brandywine still ended the first half with a 32-20 advantage and held River Valley to just five points in the second quarter.

“He’s (Udell) got a pretty swollen ankle right now. He just rolled it a little. We’re going to ice it at much as we can and we’ll see how’s he doing on Monday,” Knapp said.

Another ankle injury is the last thing the Bobcats needed at this point as starting center Jacob Frazier, who is also out with an injured ankle, may not be returning for another month still.

“We just can’t get a break this year. And we’ve got a few kids who have a lot of weight on their shoulders at this point to step up. I think Lance Prescott has done a great job of filling the void, but he puts a lot of pressure on himself,” Knapp said.

Prescott scored 22 points for Brandywine, 12 of which came in the third period alone. Brandywine extended its lead to 55-28 entering the fourth.

Knapp said sophomore Austin Searles, who was brought up from the JV team to fill in for Frazier’s absence, has also contributed to the team.

“We need our guys to step up – every one of them. From this point on it’s got to be a team effort and we need a few people to really pitch in and lead the way for us. I think Dustin Bell has also done a great job of stepping in as a big guy under the basket,” Knapp continued. “Today, we did great. Everyone pitched in where they could, even our bench, and that’s what we need right now.”

The Bobcats’ bench saw significant playing time in the fourth period, which Knapp said was great, especially for his starters.

“Anytime we can give them rest we will. And with the schedule we’ve had lately they need it,” he said.

Bell ended the day with 18 points for Brandywine. River Valley’s Trevor Harlan was the only Mustang player to score in double digits, ending the game with 16 points.

Knapp said he hopes to have his entire team back by the start of the district tournaments, which are quickly approaching. He said his goal, until then, is to keep getting better.

“Obviously not having Frazier has hurt us, but we have guys who can play and right now our main focus is on how we can be better,” Knapp continue. “If he’s (Frazier) able to come back by the time the tournaments start, I have no doubt we’ll be tough to beat, especially if the kids keep playing the way they are,” Knapp said.

He added that his star center may get the OK to come back in about one month. Frazier, who dislocated his ankle during Brandywine’s Jan. 15 game against Edwardsburg, did not do any damage to the tendons or ligaments around his ankle.

“He just dislocated one of the bones in his ankle. Nothing’s torn, no serious damage was done and the doctors said they are going to look at him in about two weeks. If everything looks ok, he’ll start rehabilitation and could be back on the court very soon.”

Knapp said that while Frazier is a luxury on the court, proper healing of his injury comes first.

“At this point, getting him healthy is our number one concern, but he’s already said if he gets the OK, he wants to get back on the court and if we know he is well enough, he could be back and at a key time,” Knapp said.

BRANDYWINE 73

Jeremy Zimmerman 0 1 2-4 5, Corey Luhrsen 0 2-2 2, DaKoda Udell 0 0-0 0, Dustin Sater 0 0-0 0, Lance Prescott 6 3 1-2 22, Stone Hadley 4 0-0 8, Dustin Bell 5 1 5-5 18, Cody Pierson 1 1-2 3, Wyatt Taylor 3 0-0 6, Austin Searles 1 1-2 3. TOTALS: 25 3 12-17 73

RIVER VALLEY 38

Charlie Trout 0 0-0 0, Trevor Gray 0 0-0 0, Casey Keller 1 0-2 2, Mike Semenic 1 1-2 3, Josh Hawkins 3 1-3 7, Derek Dudiak 3 3-4 10, Trevor Harlan 8 0-0 16, Devin Keller 0 0-0 0, Kevin Kill 0 0-0 0, Jason German 0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 16 5-14 38

River Valley 15 20 28 38

Brandywine 15 32 55 73

3-point goals: River Valley 1 (Dudiak), Brandywine 5 (Prescott 3, Bell 1, Zimmerman 1). Total fouls: River Valley 17, Brandywine 16. Fouled out: None. Technical foul: Brandywine (Sater). Varsity records: River Valley 1-8, Brandywine 4-6