By STEVE MORRISON
Niles Daily Star

BERRIEN SPRINGS – The sixth-ranked (Class B) Berrien Springs Shamrocks rode a 22-6 first quarter lead to an easy 75-50 victory over the Brandywine Bobcats at Berrien Springs High School on Friday night.

Nearly everything went in sync for the fleet-footed Shamrocks, as they ran their season record to an impressive 13-1.

Including two treys, Lance Prescott provided solid leadership for the Bobcats, scoring a game high 20 points.

Austin Searles nailed all three of his 3- attempts in the second half for the visitors.

In the end, though, there was little doubt that the Shamrocks were the superior team. The Shamrocks 6-foot-3 Jeffrey Gumbo, only a sophomore dazzled in the first half, scoring 11 points with four field goals in five tries and 3-of-3 shooting from the foul line.

In the second half, Shamrock teammate Steven Felusme was even more impressive nailing all five of his field goal attempts in the third quarter for 10 points.

For the evening Felusme was high scorer for the ‘Rocks with 15.

The Shamrocks began the game with an 11-0 run before Prescott drove for a layup to score Brandywine’s first points, after 4:47 had ticked off the clock.

With precision passing the Shamrocks penetrated the Bobcat zone well. Mark Westendorp answered Prescott with the first of his two three bombs of the half. Down 14-2, Brandywine coach Nathan Knapp called a timeout to steady the reeling Bobcats.

Brandywine stepped up the pace, a little with 13 points in the second quarter largely on the effort of Prescott’s eight points.

Regardless, the Shamrocks posted an identical 22 points to match their first quarter effort and took a commanding 44-19 lead into the locker room at the half.

Tightening their 3-2 zone the Bobcats added some defensive pressure, matching the Shamrocks’ first five points five minutes into the third stanza. However, Felusme’s torrid shooting was just too much for the Bobcats to mount a comeback. Two threes by Searles sparked the visitors 10-3 run in the final eight minutes, but it just wasn’t enough.

Knapp was positive and looking to the future despite the loss.

The Bobcats have gone through a ton of headaches this season, losing Jacob Frazier and Jesse McCombs to season-ending injuries and Dakota Udell for an extended stretch as well. To their credit, the Bobcats never gave up and hustling right down to the buzzer.

Rebuilding the varsity with a quartet of junior varsity call-ups; Searles, Aaron Marquardt, Joe Godfrey and Mikal Toxopeus has given Knapp a reason for optimism.

“They (his players) just don’t give up,”  Knapp praised. “If we could eliminate that rough start… We were scrambling around trying to get things to work. We keep trying new things. We’re going to find something for us, and that’s going to work. The continuity is going to turn things around.”

Brandywine’s junior varsity was defeated 63-58. Corey Luhrsen’s 20 for the Bobcats led all scorers, while Bradley Millen knocked in 11. Demetrius Washington had 14 points for Berrien Springs. The Shamrock freshmen won 44-40 over the Bobcats squad.

BRANDYWINE 50
Jeff Zimmerman 1 0-0 2; Dakota Udell 0 0-0 0; Mykal Toxopeus 1 0-1 2; Dustin Sater 0 0-0 0; Lance Prescott 8 2-4 20; Stone Hadley 3 3-4 9; Joseph Godfrey 4 0-1 8; Aaron Marquardt 0 0-0 0; Austin Searles 3 0-0 9

BERRIEN SPRINGS 75
Matt Little 5 1-1 12; Nolan O’brien 0 0-0 0; Deontae Scott 1 0-1 3; Anthony Johnson 1 0-0 2;Tyrice Carter 3 1-2 7; Mark Westendorp 3 0-0 8; Jared McCarver 2 1-2 5; Steven Felusme 7 0-0 15; Oluwaseunt Idowu 4 0-0 10; Jonathan Shembarger 1 0-0 2;  Jeffrey Gumbo 4 3-3 11

Berrien Springs 22 22 15 16 75
Brandywine 6 13 9 22 50
3-point baskets: Berrien Springs (Little 1, Scott 1, Westendorp 2, Felusme 1, Idowu 1); Brandywine (Prescott 2, Searles 3). Team fouls : Brandywine 12, Berrien Springs 11. Fouled out; None. Varsity records: Berrien Springs 13-1; Brandywine 4-10
Bridgman…47
Buchanan…35
BUCHANAN – Defending Lakeland Conference champion Bridgman stayed just a game behind league-leading Berrien Springs Friday night with a 47-35 win over host Buchanan.
The Bees are now 7-1 in the conference, while the Shamrocks, who defeated Brandywine Friday night, are now 9-0.
After a slow start, Bridgman was able to build up a five-point halftime advantage on the Bucks, 18-13.
Buchanan closed to within two points by the end of the third quarter, 28-26, but the Bees exploded for 19 points in the final stanza, while holding Buchanan to just nine points.
Cameron Reeves led a balanced Bridgman scoring attack with 14 points.
Mark Haukereid and Connor Magro both scored 11 points and Michael Kamp chipped in with 10.
The Bucks were led by Dylan Arnold’s eight points.
Jalen Brown finished with six as the Bucks dip to 7-7 overall and 4-3 in conference action.

BRIDGMAN 47
Cameron Magro 0; Mark Haukereid 11; Zane Copeland 1; Josiah Badger 0; Cameron Reeves 14; Michael Kamp 10; Connor Magro 11; Parker Mosjsiejenko 0. TOTALS: 16 8-12
BUCHANAN 35
Spencer Anglero 0; Dylan Arnold 8; Savon Brown 3; Richie Reed 2; Bryan Kuntz 2; Andrew Hearington 4; Daniel Blackwell 3; Ryan Catalano 4; Jalen Brown 6; Brandon Jackson 1; Marquis Tyler 2. TOTALS: 14 6-11 35

Bridgman 5 18 28 47
Buchanan 4 13 26 35
3-point baskets: Bridgman 7 (Haukereid 1, Reeves 3, Kamp 2, Co, Magro 1), Buchanan 1 (Brown). Total fouls: Bridgman 13, Buchanan 15. Fouled out: Haukereid (BR). Varsity records: Bridgman 12-2, 7-1 Lakeland; Buchanan 7-7, 4-3 Lakeland). JV score: Bridgman 47, Buchanan 44 (Justin Henderson 16). Freshmen score: Bridgman 60, Buchanan 22 (Carsten McCarty 7).