With just under four weeks left until the MHSAA state tournament begins, the Brandywine girls basketball team has already begun preparations.

That continued as the Bobcats routed New Buffalo 57-11 in a BCS non-divisional contest Tuesday night.

Using a 26-0 run to open the contest and forcing 35 Bison turnovers, Brandywine powered its way to a 12th win of the season. The win was also the 75th consecutive for the Bobcats on their home court.

From the opening tip, the Brandywine used its intense pressure defense to force 13 first quarter turnovers by New Buffalo and create easy scoring opportunities.

“The message to the girls was real clear during the game,” Brandywine coach Josh Hood said. “We do not want to get into bad habits like bad rotations and reaching. But we are a better team now and doing a great job of playing hard.”

And played hard they did, as New Buffalo did not get its first points of the game until 5:45 left in the first half.

Brandywine used 24-0 run to open the second half and force a running clock for the remainder of the contest.

“This program is built on defense and transition,” Hood said. “We want to continue to put pressure on teams and we have a luxury here at Brandywine as we have 12 very good basketball players on this team. We want to continue to keep the tempo where we want it.  Some teams like to keep the score in the 30s and 40s, not us, we want to put in the 60s.”

Brandywine seniors Jaleesa Garner, Makenna Hartline and Emily Erwin led the Bobcats in scoring at 14, 10 and 8 points respectively.

Up next for the Bobcats is another BCS foe as they travel to Bridgman Thursday. Earlier this season Brandywine topped the Bees 67-24.

 

BRANDYWINE 57, NEW BUFFALO 11

At Brandywine High School

NEW BUFFALO 11

Lauren Aroney 3, Maeve Smith 5, Anna Bardusk 3, Sophia Giannetti 0, Marissa Bardusk 0, Mariah Artz 0, Alyssa Mulligan 0. TOTALS: 4 1-6 11.

BRANDYWINE 57

Makenna Hartline 10, Jaleesa Garner 14, Mia Stella 3, Michaela Hartline 2, Emily Erwin 8, Rachael Szilagyi 4, Alyssa Bolen 3, Libby Moody 11, Alexis Garcia 2. TOTALS: 22 5-13 57.

 

New Buffalo               0          2          5          11

Brandywine               23       26       54       57

3-point baskets: New Buffalo 2 (Aroney, Smith), Brandywine 8 (Ma. Hartline, Stella, Erwin 2, Bolen, Moody 3). Rebounds: Brandywine 27 (Makenna Hartline 8, Szilagyi 6, Bolen 4, Stella 3, Michaela Hartline 2, Bowen 2, Erwin 1, Moody 1).  New Buffalo 26 (Mulligan 8, Giannetti 6, Marrisa Bardusk 5, Aroney 2, Smith 2, Anna Bardusk 2, Artz 1). Assists: Brandywine 16 (Erwin 4, Garner 3, Makenna Hartline 2, Stella 2, Bolen 2, Michaela Hartine 1, Bowen 1, Szilagyi 1). Niles 8 (Brookins 2, Gaines 2, Brown 2, Preston 1, Jaycee Myer 1). Turnovers: Brandywine 4; New Buffalo 35 Total fouls (fouled out): Brandywine 13, (None), New Buffalo 16 (none).

Varsity records: Brandywine 12 -2; New Buffalo 2-9.