COMSTOCK PARK — Strong defense and timely scoring led No. 1-ranked Laingsburg to a 33-26 victory over No. 2 Brandywine in the Class C girls basketball quarterfinals Tuesday night.

The Wolfpack (26-0) used a smoothing defense to limit the Bobcats (23-2) to 29 percent shooting and forced 22 Brandywine turnovers in advancing to Thursday’s semifinal against Calumet at the Breslin Center on the campus of Michigan State University.

The Bobcats never really got clean looks at the basket and finished the game with just nine field goals, five of which were 3-pointers.

“That’s as good of a defensive team as you’ll find in the state,” Brandywine coach Josh Hood said. “We thought we saw some things on film that we could attack, but they took us out of everything that we wanted to do. We got outcoached. I had all weekend to watch film and we still couldn’t find a productive way to attack them and that’s on the coach. They imposed their will on us. They played strong. They played physical. And they gave us no space for penetration. Plus, they pushed us out far enough that we couldn’t get our post going.”

The game was physical from the outset with neither team wanting to give an inch defensively.

Laingsburg, which is headed to East Lansing for the first time in school history, led 8-7 at the end of the first quarter and 17-12 at the half.

Brandywine held the Wolfpack to a single free throw in the third quarter as it took a 20-18 leads into the final eight minutes of play.

Laingsburg quickly erased the two-point deficit and reclaimed tied the game on a basket by Lindsey Smith.

The Bobcats were able to reclaim the lead with 4:59 remaining on a basket by Makenna Hartline and opened up a 26-23 advantage with 3:45 remaining after Jaleesa Garner came up with a steal and scored.

Laingsburg quickly tied the game at 26-26 and Sophie Wilsey’s basket with 2:10 remaining turned out to be the game-winner.

The Wolfpack hit 4-of-6 free throws in the final 1:02 to complete the victory.

“You take a three-point lead with three minutes to go, you know you have to get some stops and we did not.” Hood said. “They did a good job attacking the rim.”

Smith led the Wolfpack with a game-high 15 points, while Wilsey finished with six points.

Brandywine was led by Hartline’s seven points. Michaela Hartline added six and the Bobcats’ lone senior, Brooke, Smith scored five points in her final game.

 

LAINGSBURG 33, BRANDYWINE 26

Laingsburg 33

Jalynn Mitchell 1 0-0 2, Lindsey Smith 4 7-9 15, Sara Hurst 2 0-0 5, Nicky McAvoy 1 0-2 2, Julia Angst 1 0-0 2, Alex Randall 0 1-4 1, Sophie Wilsey 2 2-4 6. TOTALS: 11 10-19 33

Brandywine 26

Makenna Hartline 3 1-4 7, Michaela Hartline 2 0-0 6, Brooke Smith 1 2-2 5, Emily Erwin 2 0-0 6, Jaleesa Garner 1 0-0 2, Alyssa Bolen 0 0-0 0, Makena Bowen 0 0-0 0, Rachael Szilagyi 0 0-0 0, Mia Stella 0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 9 3-6 26

 

Laingsburg                 8          17       18       33

Brandywine               7          12       20       26

3-point baskets: Laingsburg 1 (Hurst 1), Brandywine 5 (Erwin 2, Michaela Hartline 2, Smith 1). Total fouls (fouled out): Laingsburg 12 (none), Brandywine 15 (Makenna Hartline). Varsity records: Laingsburg 26-0, Brandywine 23-2