By SCOTT NOVAK
Niles Daily Star

In an era where post players not only have height, but girth, Brandywine junior center Lauren Leonard breaks the mold.

Leonard it tall enough, standing 5-foot-11, but she is of slender build, something that suits her in volleyball, where she excels as well.

Opponents may think just by looking at her that they will be able to push her around in the paint.

Looks can be deceiving.

Leonard, who is the cousin of teammates Nicole and Carlie Newman, is no pushover and she has helped lead the No. 2-ranked Bobcats to the Class C state semifinals this afternoon against St. Ignace.

The junior standout has produced back-to-back double-doubles for Brandywine, which is 24-1.

Leonard has really stepped up her game in the state tournament.

After averaging 8.6 points and 5.4 rebounds per game during the regular season, she is scoring 11 points per game and snaring nine rebounds a contest in the postseason.

“After the Kalamazoo Central game we really stressed getting the ball inside more,” Brandywine coach Josh Hood said of her improved numbers. “She has done a really good job, along with our other post players. But her drive to get better and her work ethic are what really sets her apart from other post players.

“She is just so strong inside and she doesn’t look it. In appearance, she doesn’t look like the strongest girl, but she plays so hard and physical.”

Hood said that by being able to go inside to the post, it opens up a lot of options for the Brandywine offense.

“If they don’t double down on her she is going to have a pretty good chance of scoring,” he said. “With her being able to score on the inside it has really opened up our perimeter game.”

An added dimension of her game is passing.

“She does a great job of passing because she’s tall she can see over the top,” Hood noted.
Leonard also leads the Bobcats in steals with 67.

“She just does a great job of reading the offense and she’s so active on top of that, she does a great job of getting steals.

Leonard credits her desire to get better each and every day.

“Hard work and pushing myself,” Leonard answered when asked what the secret to her success has been.

Leonard added that by playing sports all year round, she is able to continually work on her game.

She also plays volleyball and tennis for the Bobcats.

Leonard said that volleyball has been a great help in building up her legs.

“I try to motivate everyone,” she said about her role on the team. “I work hard and I push myself because I have gone through a lot of obstacles with my back. So I feel that I can show everyone that anything can be done.”

Having played two of the biggest games of her career in the regional finals and quarterfinals, Leonard is seeing the results of her efforts.

“It makes me feel like my hard work is paying off,” she said.

Leonard and the rest of the Bobcats will need another solid effort this afternoon when it takes on St. Ignace.

In a rematch of the 2000 Class C Semifinals, Brandywine will hope to reverse the outcome of that first meeting between the two schools.

The Bobcats were defeated by St. Ignace in that semifinal game 79-46.

Brandywine was guilty of 51 turnovers in that contest against the eventual state champions.

After starting out with three straight easy victories, St. Ignace has battled in its last two games to advance.

In the regional final it defeated Negaunee 56-53 and on Tuesday night in the quarterfinals, St. Ignace beat McBain 45-39.

The Saints are led by point guard Nicole Elmblad, who is averaging 25.2 points per game, had 146 assists, 127 steals, 22 blocks and 266 rebounds on the season.

She also presents a bit of a match up problem as she stands 5-11.

Grace Wheeler averaged 10 points per game.

St. Ignace is making its first return to the Final Four since 2002 when it was the state runner-up. The Saints won back-to-back state championships in 1999 and 2000.