By By ADAM FISHER / Niles Daily Star
Deer hunting season doesn't start until Monday, but Brandywine got a head-start Thursday against Buchanan.
With the student section dressed in camouflage, the Bobcats shot down the Bucks 55-24, something they hadn't done in seven years.
The 31-point margin of victory was the biggest of the year for the Bobcats. The win was also Brandywine's fourth in six games to end the season, and its fourth victory in the past five home games.
Brandywine snapped a 16-game losing streak to Buchanan by following the same formula it used Wednesday to beat River Valley – building an insurmountable lead early with sharp shooting and high-pressure defense.
The Bobcats hit 8-of-15 shots while jumping out to a 20-4 lead in the first quarter. Their defense limited Buchanan to 2-of-7 shooting in the period and nine turnovers. The Bucks hit just 22 percent of their field goals in the game and turned the ball over 21 times.
After hitting their first two shots of the third quarter, the Bucks hit just two of their final 24 shots in the second half. Buchanan shot 15 percent in the half.
Hayley Cashier scored 10 points for Buchanan, but no other Buck scored more than four points.
Despite Brandywine's pressure, Buchanan head coach Bill Weaver said the Bucks killed themselves with turnovers and poor shooting.
Weaver said the Bobcats' fast start was the difference in the game.
Thursday was the second night in a row the Bobcats held a team to less than 30 percent shooting. River Valley shot 29 percent from the field in a 44-37 loss Wednesday at Brandywine. The difference against Buchanan was the Bobcats' shooting.
Brandywine shot almost as poorly as the Mustangs on Wednesday, hitting 31 percent of their shots. Against the Bucks, Brandywine made 43 percent of its shots, including almost 50 percent in the second half.
Buchanan mounted a mini-comeback early in the third quarter, knocking Brandywine's lead down to 11 points. The Bobcat advantage wouldn't dip into single digits, however, as Brandywine pushed the lead to 17 heading into the fourth quarter.
The Bobcats best quarter of play was the fourth, once the game was already well out of hand. Brandywine hit five of its first six shots, and Buchanan missed its first seven as the Bobcats went up by 30 points.
Brandywine's junior varsity team completed the Bobcats' sweep of Buchanan with a 47-31 victory Thursday.
Connie Brandt led Brandywine with 13 points. Brook Allen scored 11 and Ashley Casey added 10 for the Bobcats.
A blowout victory over the Bobcats' biggest rival, not to mention winning four of their final five conference game, is exactly what Brandywine needed heading into Tuesday's district tournament matchup with Eau Claire, Roeder said.
Weaver said Buchanan needs to get back to doing the basics well to do well in districts. The Bucks face River Valley in round one Monday.
Buchanan (24) - Katie Backus 1 0-0 2, Dee Dee Thompson 2 0-0 4, Sheena Bradshaw 0 0-0 0, Ashley Pointer 1 0-0 2, Hayley Cashier 4 2-2 10, Linsey Ross 0 0-1 0, Jill Woodrick 0 0-1 0, Holly Dunivan 2 0-0 4, Leteshia Shannon 0 0-1 0, Danielle Bachleda 0 2-2 2. Totals: 10 4-7 24.
Brandywine (55) - Kalie Newman 3 1-2 9, Ashley Antus 1 0-0 3, Kendra Zache 0 0-0 0, Rachel Batman 2 0-0 5, Kelli Konopka 4 1-1 10, Katie Smallwood 5 0-0 10, Kelli Zache 3 3-3 9, Nikki Martyniuk 0 0-0 0, Charlene Juhasz 2 2-2 6, Heather Knuckles 0 1-2 1. Totals: 21 8-10 55 .
BU 4 14 22 24 - 24
BW 20 27 39 55 - 55
3-point shooting - Buchanan 0; Brandywine 5 (Newman 2, Batman 2, Ke. Konopka). Rebounds - Buchanan 34 (Thompson 10); Brandywine 34 (Martyniuk 7). Fouls (fouled out) - Buchanan 15 (none); Brandywine 16 (none). Records - Buchanan 7-13, 6-8 LAC; Brandywine 7-11, 5-9 LAC.