By By DAN WEISS / Niles Daily Star
NILES -- Kalie Newman's shot rolled around the rim and fell off, taking with it Brandywine's best chance to overcome a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit in Thursday's 41-39 loss to Lakeland Conference foe Coloma.
The Bobcats, now 4-5 overall and 2-3 in the league, trailed by 10 points with three minutes left in the game, but nearly overcame the deficit thanks to clutch shooting and Coloma's poor free throw shooting.
Nicki McGowen scored six points in the last minute of the game while the Comets made just 1-of-6 free throws.
With four seconds to go, Newman drove the length of the floor and put up a short jumper that nearly tied the game, but just missed.
Brandywine managed just 18 rebounds in the contest and got just nine points from its normally-productive post players.
McGowen led the Bobcats with 15 points and Newman added 11 points.
The Brandywine junior varsity basketball team beat Coloma 46-26 to improve to 6-2 overall and 5-0 in league play. Kelli Zache paced the Bobcats with 11 points and Nikki Martyniuk added eight.
Coloma………..41
Brandywine….39
Coloma: Jamie Cade 3 2-4 10, Dianne Mitchell 3 0-2 7, Melanie Galles 0 0-0 0, Ashley Mannino 1 0-0 2, Karen Mitchell 0 2-5 2, Kelly Herman 0 0-0 0, Haley Gire 2 0-3 4, Hannah Barrett 2 0-0 4, Kachina Blackamore 5 2-6 12, Liz Modro 0 0-0 0. Totals: 16 6-20 41
Brandywine: Kalie Newman 3 4-4 11, Ashley LeMere 1 0-0 2, Stephanie Duckett 0 0-0 0, Kara Allen 0 0-0 0, Emily Whitney 2 0-2 4, Judy Schlutt 0 1-2 1, Michelle Shoemaker 0 3-8 3, Nicki McGowen 5 3-3 15, Katie Tuohy 0 1-2 1, Kayla Asmus 1 0-1 2. Totals: 12 12-22 39
Coloma 11 9 14 7--41
Brandywine 13 6 3 17--39
3-point shooting: Coloma 3 (Cade 2, D. Mitchell), Brandywine 3 (McGowen 2, Newman). Team fouls (fouled out): Coloma 17 (none), Brandywine 14 (none). Team records: Coloma 3-4, Brandywine 4-5