By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
THREE OAKS - Early first half problems and foul trouble caused Brandywine's varsity basketball team to suffer a 50-46 loss to host River Valley Tuesday evening, bringing the Bobcats' overall record to 7-6 on the season.
The Mustangs held on to a small 8-6 lead after the first quarter and extended the gap to 29-18 at halftime.
In the third period, River Valley held the Bobcats to only four points, while the Mustangs were able to add another 10 to bring the score to 39-22.
Brandywine made an attempt to take control of the lead in the fourth, outscoring River Valley 24-11, but the Mustangs walked away victorious with the 50-46 win.
Kalie Newman was the leading scorer for the Lady Cats with 12 points. Newman also hit two 3-pointers in the fourth quarter.
Kelli Konopka added eight points, while Katie Smallwood had seven.
Kari Konopka and Ashley Casey each scored six points with, Casey's coming from two 3-pointers in the second quarter.
Heather Totike was the leading scorer for River Valley with 13 points, while Kali Lauzon added 10.
Brandywine will hope to grab a win on Thursday when it hosts Cassopolis for another LAC match-up set to begin at 7:30 p.m.
RIVER VALLEY 50
Maggie Hausmann 0 1 4-4 7, Katie Livergood 0 0-0 0, Morgan Olmstead 1 2-0 2, Heather Totike 5 4-3 13, Emily Priest 1 0-0 2, Kali Lauzon 3 10-7 10, Abby Meyer 0 0-0 0, Val Schlutt 1 1-1 3, Jodi Grandholm 3 2-3 8, Tera Koebel 0 2-2 2
BRANDYWINE 46
Kalie Newman 1 2 4-4 12, Connie Brant 0 0-0 0, Rachel Batman 2 0-0 2, Kendra Zache 0 0-0 0, Brooke Allen 2 4-1 5, Kelli Konopka 1 9-6 8, Katie Smallwood 4 4-3 7, Kelli Zache 0 0-0 0, Ashley Casey 0 2 0-0 6, Kari Konopka 1 4-4 6, Emily Low 0 2-0 0, Mallory Barber 0 0-0 0