By By SCOTT NOVAK / Niles Daily Star
CASSOPOLIS - The visiting Brandywine Bobcats made the host Lady Rangers work for their 55-47 Lakeland Conference victory Thursday night.
After Cassopolis (5-0, 4-0 LAC) opened up a 13-9 first quarter advantage, the Lady Bobcats roared back in the second quart to cut the lead to 24-22 at halftime.
Brandywine (3-3, 2-2 LAC) outscored Cassopolis 13-11 in the second quarter to close the gap.
Brandywine continued to pressure the Lady Rangers, however, Cassopolis outscored the Lady Bobcats 11-9 in the third period to open up a four-point advantage heading into the final eight minutes.
Trailing 35-31 entering the fourth quarter, Brandywine was unable to pull ahead of Cassopolis and was outscored 20-16.
Cassopolis' Kelsey Gordon led all scorers with 22 points. Dee Dee Hawkins added 15 points for the Lady Rangers.
Katie Smallwood led the Lady Bobcats with 14 points, while Kari Konopka added 11 points. Kelli Zache and Ashley Casey both finished with eight points.
Brandywine shot a better percentage from the field than Cassopolis, but were outscored 22-13 in field goals.
The Lady Bobcats hit 19-of-28 free throw attempts to just 7-of-17 for the Lady Rangers. Brandywine also outrebounded Cassopolis 35-25.
Brandywine edged Cassopolis in the junior varsity contest 40-38.
Alexa Perry scored 11 points to lead the Lady Bobcats. Kia Luckey led all scorers for Cassopolis with 14 points.
BRANDYWINE 47
Kalie Newman 0 3-4 3, Kelli Konopka 0 2-5 2, Katie Smallwood 5 4-4 14, Kelli Zache 3 2-3 8, Ashley Casey 2 2-3 8, Kari Konopka 3 5-7 11, Mallory Barber 0 0-0 0, Rachel Batman 0 1-2 1. Totals 13 19-28 47
CASSOPOLIS 55
Kelsey Gordon 8 4-6 22, Dee Dee Hawkins 7 1-3 15, Nikitas Nelson 2 1-2 5, Michelle James 3 1-2 8, Taira Williams 1 0-2 3, Monique Harris 0 0-0 0, Tiffany Williams 0 0-2 0, Becky File 1 0-0 2. Totals 22 7-17 55
Brandywine 9 22 31 47
Cassopolis 13 24 35 55
Three-point baskets: Gordon (C) 2, James (C), Williams (C), Casey (B) 2. Total fouls: Cassopolis 21, Brandywine 17. Fouled out: Batman (B). Varsity records: Cassopolis 5-0, 4-0 LAC); Brandywine 3-3, 2-2 (LAC)