Bobcats face tough test tonight

Published 11:56 pm Monday, March 5, 2012

Brandywine is no stranger to the regional round of the Class C state basketball tournament.

The No. 4-ranked Bobcats are making their fourth consecutive trip to the regional semifinals.

Tuesday night’s game against host Delton-Kellogg will be one of the biggest challenges Brandywine has faces in the regional semifinals.

The Panthers (19-3) are in uncharted waters, although playing at home will certainly help.

Delton-Kellogg captured its first district championship Friday night with a victory over Southwestern Athletic Conference South champion Lawton, 54-46.

The Panthers are led by Adrianna Culbert, who averages 14.6 points per game. Culbert has scored more than 1,000 points in her career and has a full-ride scholarship to play volleyball at Colorado State.

“We are going to have to rebound very well against their 6-1 and 6-2 girls, who are very athletic,” Brandywine coach Josh Hood said. “They take a lot of pride in rebounding.

“We are hoping to get the temp in our favor. We have to go into a hostile environment and face a big crowd. It should be an exciting game and we are looking forward to the challenge.”

The Bobcats (22-1) have won back-to-back regional championships. Brandywine reached the state semifinals in 2009 before bowing out. Last season the Bobcats were eliminated by Grass Lake in the quarterfinals.

Brandywine is led by a pair of seniors, both of whom are four-year starters.

Carlie Newman finished as the area’s second leading scorer with an average of 20.3 points per game. She is a sharpshooter from the perimeter, having already connected on a school record 200-plus 3-pointers. Newman is also the school’s all-time leading scorer for both boys and girls.

When the Bobcats go to the post, they look to Madison Pellow. The 5-foot-8 undersized post player is a physical presence for Brandywine. Pellow, who along with Newman have led the Bobcats to three straight Lakeland Conference championships, is averaging 10.3 points per game and 6.8 rebounds.

The Bobcats went undefeated in the conference again this season and their lone loss came on the road at the hands of No. 4-ranked (Class B) St. Joseph, which enters regional competition with a 22-0 record.

In the other semifinal game, Hartford (15-8), which was defeated by Brandywine 63-32 in the Bobcats’ Holiday Tournament, will face Mendon (21-2). Brandywine defeated the Hornets 46-33 on the road back in January.

Mendon and Hartford will play the first semifinal Tuesday night at 6 p.m. with the Brandywine and Delton-Kellogg match-up slated for approximately 7:30 p.m.

The championship game is set for Thursday at 7 p.m.

CLASS C Regional

At Delton-Kellogg

Tuesday

Hartford (15-8) vs. Mendon (21-2), 6 p.m.

Brandywine (22-1) vs. Delton-Kellogg (19-3), 7:30 p.m.

Thursday

Championship game, 7 p.m.