By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
NILES - Wow! Was the expression and word out of most peoples' mouths at Friday night's Lakeland Conference match-up between Brandywine and Cass-opolis.
The Bobcats suffered a 55-53 loss, but the way they played made up for it. They never gave up and kept their spirits up the entire game, even being down by 12 points wasn't enough to make them give up. Brandywine played its best game of the season so far.
Kevin Luckey got the game rolling with a three-pointer for the Rangers before Zach Bennett answered with two points of his own. Luckey scored another two for Cass, but Matt Beaver and DJ Elrod both gave the Bobcats two points back-to-back giving them the 6-5 lead.
Alex Newman also added two points to the score. Brandywine had a 12-10 lead entering the second quarter.
Bill Bussey started the second for the Bobcats with a three-point play from a foul. He was successful with the basket and the free throw to put Brandywine up by five.
Another basket from Bennett on the next play put the Bobcats up by seven, but Neal Bullocks cut it back to five for Cass.
Bennett was able to add six more points in the quarter for the Bobcats. Elrod, Newman and Kyle Low also added points to Brandywines score.
Newman, who already has a hurt ankle from a previous injury, was out again after hurting it towards the end of the quarter.
The Bobcats were able to go ahead by nine points, but Cass quickly reacted to tie the game up at 28 going into halftime.
And fight they did. The Bobcats went down by 12 points in the third, but they never gave up. Cass put more pressure on the Bobcats defensivley, which caused quite a few turnovers and allowed Cass some much needed points.
Bennett scored the first two points of the quarter for Brandywine and Cass held them for the next four minutes of play with no baskets. Elrod was finally able to bomb a three to put them back on the board. Cass had a 47-39 lead going into the fourth.
Beaver made the first basket of the quarter and Adam Prescott nailed his first three of the night for Brandywine to cut the lead to three.
Rodney Lewis gave the Rangers its first two points, but Prescott shoved that right back down his throat by hitting another three to bring the Bobcats within two.
Dan Stanage made 1-of-2 free throws to put them up by three and Beaver turned around and gave two more points to Brandywine's score to bring it within one. The score remained close, but Brandywine wasn't able to take the lead.
Cassopolis was able to leave with the 55-53 conference win.
With the loss of two strong players, Mike Nagy and Brett Shoemaker, both due to personal reasons, a lot of fans thought Brandywine would have a tough time against Cassopolis, but everyone was proven wrong.
They've had a rough one, we've had a rough one," Sidenbender continued. "They're willing to do whatever it takes and that's what you've got to have out there. That's Brandywine basketball. Doing what it takes to get it done."
Brandywine's JV team also suffered a 55-49 loss to the Rangers. Eric Rush had a last second three pointer for the Bobcats, but not in time to give them the win. Caleb Frazier had 16 points for Brandywine. Billy McDonald added 11 and Cody Smith had eight for the Bobcats.
Paul Curtis lead the Rangers with 12 points. Ryan Anderson had 11 and Sasso O'Brie had 10.
Brandywine plays Coloma at home next Tuesday in another Lakeland Conference game.
Cassopolis will host Dowagiac next Tuesday. Both games are set to begin at 7:30 p.m.
Cassopolis………..55
Brandywine……….53
Brandywine (53) Alex Newman 1 2-1 3, Matt Wieger 0 1-0 0, Adam Prescott 0 2 0-0 6, Zach Bennett 7 1-0 14, Justin Ely 0 0-0 0, DJ Elrod 2 1 0-0 9, Bill Bussey 1 1-1 3, Kyle Low 2 4-2 6, Matt Beaver 6 2-2 14
Cassopolis (55) Ashton Danzy 3 0-0 6, Cordero Williams 0 0-0 0, John Young 0 0-0 0, Derron Thomas 1 0-0 2, Mike Evans 0 0-0 0, Kevin Luckey 8 1 3-3 22, Rodney Lewis 1 0-0 2, Will Loux 1 1-1 3, Neal Bullocks 1 0-0 2, Dan Stanage 5 1 6-5 18, Renard MacNeal 0 0-0 0
Brandywine 12 28 39 53
Cassopolis 10 28 47 55
Three-point baskets: Prescott (B) 2, Elrod (B) 1, Luckey (C) 1, Stanage (C)1. Varsity Records: Brandywine 0-10 conference 1-14 overall. Cassopolis 4-6 conference 6-7 overall.