By By TOM NYHUIS / Vigilant/Argus
NILES - Not executing their game plan proved costly to the Lady Bobcats in Lakeland Conference basketball action on Thursday night in the Bobcat gym.
Cassopolis came in and handed Brandywine a 61-44 setback as the Rangers improved to 13-1 and 10-1 in the conference while the Bobcats drop to 7-7 and 5-6.
The Rangers jumped out to an early 10-0 lead to start the game and it looked as if they would have little trouble with the Bobcats as they were unable to get their offense rolling.
But Brandywine had a mind set to not let the game get away early and a 10-5 run by the Bobcats midway through the first quarter got the Bobcats back in the game.
Kelli Konopka got Brandywine rolling along with baskets by Katie Smallwood and Kalie Newman scored all of the Bobcat points in the quarter and trailed by three, 15-19, heading into the second quarter.
Brandywine's Smallwood, who had a team high 11 points, pulled her team to within one point to start the second quarter.
From that point the Rangers rattled off 10 unanswered points led by Kelsey Gordon who finished the game with a game high 24 points for the Rangers. Gordon finished the first half with 18 as Cassopolis opened up 12 point lead with two minutes to play in the first half.
Newman sank a trey with :42 remaining in the quarter to cut into the Ranger lead 28-35. Michelle James finished the first half scoring with a bucket to give the Rangers a 37-28 halftime lead.
After Smallwood opened the second half scoring the Bobcat offense went dry and was held to just three more points in the quarter.
Cass also struggled in the quarter and netted only nine points in the quarter to keep a glimmer of hope for the Bobcats to get back into the game trailing by 13.
Brandywine attempted to get the ball down low in the post but the Rangers defense contested each pass inside and forced numerous turnovers.
The Rangers also dominated the boards pulling down 29 rebounds with Dee Dee Hawkins raking in 10. Hawkins also chipped in 14 points for her team.