Through the first four games of the season, Brandywine coach Josh Hood has been pleased that his team had improved each time out.

Monday night that was not the case for the Bobcats, who according to Hood “took a step backward.”

But in the end, despite shooting woes and turnovers, Brandywine was able to remain undefeated with a 48-27 victory over visiting Bridgman in a Lakeland Conference girls’ basketball contest.

“The last two years we have really struggled at home with them scoring and energy-wise,” Hood said. “It’s a credit to Amy (Houghton) and her Bridgman girls. They always seen to play really hard here and tonight again, they were the team with a lot more energy. As a head coach that’s disappointing.”

It actually looked as if the Bobcats (5-0, 2-0 Lakeland) were going to turn the game into a rout in the opening few minutes of Monday night’s contest. Brandywine got off to a 9-0 lead, but was unable to maintain their energy level.

Bridgman (0-3, 0-1 Lakeland) was able to work its way back into the contest, cutting the lead to 9-4 before Mackenzie Shelton, who opened the scoring with a basket, connected on a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the Bobcats the 12-4 advantage.

The struggles of the opening eight minutes continued in the second quarter, but Brandywine was able to keep the Bees from making a serious challenge.

After having the lead cut to 17-11 with 5:03 to play in the first half on a basket by Bridgman’s Lindsay Lowbry, Shelton canned another 3-pointer to push the lead back up to nine points.

Just as they had in the first quarter, the Bobcats ended the opening half on a 3-pointer at the buzzer, this one by Rachael Ort to make it a 24-11 contest at the intermission.

Brandywine was able to put a little breathing room between itself and Bridgman in the third quarter as it outscored the Bees 15-9.

The lead stayed between 11 and 14 points much of the period, but a Carlie Newman 3-pointer with 3:16 to play and a basket by Madison Pellow two minutes later allowed the Bobcats to take a 16-point advantage into the fourth quarter, 39-21.

There wasn’t much offense in the final eight minutes as the two teams combined for just 15 points. The Bobcats got the better of it, 9-6, to finish with a 21-point victory.

“I’m concerned about us as a whole,” Hood said. “Our team all together was sloppy, we didn’t make free throws and we missed the same bunnies we’ve missed the last few years. Good teams don’t do that and good teams come out every game ready to play.”

Newman led the Bobcats and all scorers with 14 points. Shelton finished the night with 12 points, while Ort and Pellow each chipped in nine points.

Pellow also had eight rebounds and four steals for Brandywine, which got five steals from Ort and four assists from Newman. Shelton also had four steals and Brooke Smith led the team with nine rebounds.

Rachel Stemm had eight points to pace the Bees.

Brandywine is back in action Thursday night as it makes the short trip over to Berrien Springs for another Lakeland Conference contest.

BRIDGMAN 27

Lindsay Lowbry 2 1-3 5; Anna Schmaltz 0 0-0 0; Mikayla Lechenet 1 0-2 2; Rachel Stemm 3 2-2 8; Brittney Doehrer 2 0-1 4; Niki Strefling 0 0-0 0; Sam Wagner 4 0-1 8; April Philey 0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 12 3-9 27

BRANDYWINE 48

Carlie Newman 5 3-7 14; Rachael Ort 3 1-3 9; Mackenzie Shelton 5 0-0 12; Tia Hullinger 0 0-0 0; Victoria Knight 0 0-0 0; Brooke Smith 2 0-0 4; Mikayla Kemp 0 0-0 0; Madison Pellow 4 1-3 9. TOTALS: 19 5-15 48

Bridgman 4 11 21 27

Brandywine 12 24 39 48

3-point baskets: Bridgman 0, Brandywine 5 (Newman, Ort 2, Shelton 2). Total fouls (fouled out): Bridgman 16 (none), Brandywine 14 (none). Varsity records: Bridgman 0-3, 0-1 Lakeland; Brandywine 5-0, 2-0 Lakeland

Buchanan…38

Cassopolis..36

CASSOPOLIS — A pair of free throws by Buchanan in overtime were the only points scored, but they were enough to give the Bucks a 38-36 Lakeland Conference victory Monday night.

Erin Glavin scored her only point of the game in overtime, while Maddy Vorrath tossed in the other free throw for Buchanan.

The game was deadlocked at 36-36 at the end of regulation.

Buchanan led 13-12 after one quarter and 27-17 at halftime. Cassopolis outscored the Bucks 9-2 in the third quarter to cut the lead to 29-26 and then outscored them again in the fourth quarter 10-7 to force the extra session.

Vorrath and Madison Prillwitz each had 11 points to lead Buchanan.

The Rangers’ Tammy Lee led all scorers with 17 points. Cassopolis also got 13 points from Courtney Moore.

BUCHANAN…38

Jodi Mosier 2; Tateanna Hinds 0 0-0 0; Alexis Meahl 4; Erin Glavin 1; Amanda Anglero 3; Maddy Vorrath 11; Ashley Simpson 6; Madison Prillwitz 11. TOTALS: 14 6-11 38

CASSOPOLIS…36

Tammy Lee 17; Bre Coleman 0; Jessica Waldschmidt 0; Jameka Eleazor 1; Savannah Sullivan 3; Jade Gatson 2; Courtney Moore 13; Jocelyn Transou 0. TOTALS: 13 8-21 36

Buchanan 13 27 29  36 38

Cassopolis 12 17 26 36 36

3-point baskets: Buchanan 4 (Anglero, Vorrath, Simpson, Prillwitz), Cassopolis 2 (Lee, Sullivan). Total fouls (fouled out): Buchanan 14 (none), Cassopolis 14 (Lee).