By By ADAM FISHER / Niles Daily Star
No matter how well you play in the second half, it's hard to overcome an 0-for-11 start to a basketball game.
Brandywine found that out Monday in a 56-45 loss to Decatur at home to start the season.
The Bobcats didn't score until 1:09 remaining in the opening period, and didn't get their first field goal until there were 32 seconds left. Decatur, meanwhile raced out to an 11-0 lead.
Most of Decatur's points came in the paint, as Brandywine's defense had no answer for the Bulldogs' Andy Drenth. Drenth scored 17 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, both game highs, to lead the attack inside. Drenth averaged 10 points for the Bulldogs last year.
Brandywine was without two of its big-men down the stretch Monday. Senior forward Brett Shoemaker was suspended one game by the MHSAA for being disqualified from the Bobcats' final football game of the season, Oct. 22.
Late in the second quarter, senior Gene McDonald reaggravated an injury in his right knee from the football season and was forced to sit the rest of the game.
Sidenbender said his team's post defense was poor without two of his biggest players in there.
The Bobcats also lost sophomore Kyle Low to a lower leg injury in the third quarter. Sidenbender said he should be fine, but he didn't know the status of McDonald.
Despite the defensive and shooting woes (less than 25 percent through the first three quarters), the Bobcats gave Decatur a run in the fourth quarter.
Brandywine put on a press in the second half that frustrated the Bulldogs and began making shots to pull within three points at 40-37 with five minutes remaining.
But it was Drench again who sparked the Bulldogs, completing a three-point play that started a 14-4 run to put Decatur back up by double figures.
Sidenbender said the play was a breakdown in Brandywine's press.
In the end, Brandywine's early 11-point deficit was the same margin of victory for Decatur
Brandywine shot 55 times in the game, hitting just 15 for 27 percent. The Bobcats were led by freshman Bill Bussey's 10 points.
Zach Bennett scored six of his eight points in the fourth quarter, when Brandywine was attempting to come back. Justin Ely also scored eight points for Brandywine.
Decatur outrebounded Brandywine 43-34 in the contest. Bennett led the Bobcats with eight rebounds.
Although the varsity struggled, the Bobcats' junior varsity team looked near flawless against the Bulldogs. Defense was key for Brandywines' JV in a 51-25 victory over Decatur.
Caleb Frazier led the Bobcats with nine points. Decatur was led by nine points from Joe Robinson.
The Bobcats have to turn around and play again tonight at Marcellus. As long as they can avoid an 0-for-11 start, they should do a lot better, Sidenbender said.
Decatur……….56
Brandywine….45
Decatur (56) - Rodney Gravitter 4-6 0-0 8, Jared Martinek 1-4 0-1 2, Steven Mastenbrook 3-7 5-6 11, Dan Benson 3-4 2-3 8, Justin Overly 0-1 0-0 0, Caleb Bryant 3-8 4-5 10, Andy Pentland 0-1 0-0 0, Jeff Cerven 0-1 0-0 0, Andy Drenth 5-14 7-14 17. Totals: 19-47 18-28 56.
Brandywine (45) - Mike Nagy 1-5 4-6 6, Alex Newman 1-5 0-1 2, Matt Wieger 1-3 0-0 2, Gene McDonald 1-5 1-1 3, Zach Bennett 3-11 2-2 8, Justin Ely 2-10 3-4 8, D.J. Elrod 1-3 0-0 2, Bill Bussey 3-5 4-4 10, Kyle Low 0-1 0-0 0, Matt Beaver 2-7 0-0 4. Totals: 15-55 14-18 45.
3-point shooting - Decatur 0-7 (Gravitter 0-1, Martinek 0-1, Overly 0-1, Cerven 0-1, Mastenbrook 0-3); Brandywine 1-8 (Ely 1-4, Newman 0-1, Beaver 0-1, McDonald 0-2).