BUCHANAN — Using a steady deep rotation, Brandywine wore down Buchanan for a 67-47 BCS Athletic Conference girls basketball victory Thursday.

The Bobcats (3-0 overall, 2-0 in the BCS) got 18 points each from Emily Erwin (six 3-pointers, all in the first half) and Makenna Hartline (most of them on the interior) in besting the Bucks (2-1, 1-1 BCS).

On a night when Brandywine made 12 3-point baskets (10 in the first half), Alyssa Bolen also had three triples and nine points to go with a team-best seven assists.

Mia Stella netted a pair of treys and Makena Bowen one. Bowen and Michaela Hartline tied for the team lead with three steals apiece.

The Bobcats forced the Bucks into 29 turnovers.

“It’s not about who gets the press,” Brandywine coach Josh Hood said. “It’s about nine girls working hard and playing together and tonight we were extremely unselfish. They always want to get other players involved.”

Hood was pleased with how his girls forced the issue and turned pressure defense into points.

“We got some really nice looks in transition,” Hood said.

Jaleesa Garner netted three points for Brandywine and played strong defense, helping hold all-stater Brooke Wesner to a pair of 3-pointers.

“If Jaleesa Garner is not the best defender in southwest Michigan or the state, I have not seen anyone better,” Hood said. “She really takes pride in our defense.”

The Bobcats led by as many as 17 points in the first quarter at 22-5.

But midway through the second period, Buchanan cut the gap to six at 28-22.

Brandywine responded with a run and pushed the lead to 24 at 56-32 just before halftime and never let the Bucks get closer than 18 the rest of the game.

Jade Mosier and Jayla Bibbs paced Buchanan with 18 and 15 points, respectively.

The Bobcats made 25 turnovers, but the Bucks could not take full advantage.

“When we had our opportunities we didn’t finish,” Buchanan coach Gabe Miller said. “We had a lot of steals, a lot of takeaways. There was a lid on the basket for whatever reason and we couldn’t complete our 2-pointers.”

 

BRANDYWINE 67, BUCHANAN 47

At Buchanan 

BRANDYWINE 67

Emily Erwin 18, Makena Bowen 5, Michaela Hartline 6, Jaleesa Garner 3, Makenna Hartline 18, Rachael Szilagyi 0, Alyssa Bolen 9, Mia Stella 6, Chelsie Luczkowski 2. TOTALS: 27 1-4 67.

BUCHANAN 47

Myeshia Mayo 4 , Ali Kyles 2, Jayla Bibbs 15, Jade Mosier 18, Brooke Wesner 6, Morgan Zelmer  2, Nikki Mucha 0, Ally Stephenson 0. TOTALS: 21 3-8 47.

 

Brandywine   24       42       56       67

Buchanan       13       22      34       47

3-point baskets: Brandywine 12 (Erwin 6, Bolen 3, Stella 2, Bowen 1), Buchanan 2 (Wesner 2). Total fouls (fouled out): Brandywine 11 (none), Buchanan 11 (none). Varsity records: Brandywine 3-0, 2-0 BCS; Buchanan 2-1, 1-1 BCS). JV: Brandywine 32, Buchanan 21. Leading scorers: Brandywine — Nicole Sachman 17, Caley Alvord 4; Buchanan — Mia Brown 4, Morgan Lenox 4.