By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
BERRIEN SPRINGS - After Friday night's game against Edwardsburg, Brandywine's head basketball coach Nate Knapp said his team was going to have to prepare for a tough week.
That tough week began last night as the Bobcats traveled to Berrien Springs for a Lakeland Conference game.
The Shamrocks, who are now 7-2 overall, 5-1 in conference action, were too tough, too tall and too quick for visiting Brandywine as they took a 65-35 win.
The Bobcats fall to 0-6 in conference play, 2-9 overall.
Berrien Springs jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead in the first period.
Caleb Frazier, who led Brandywine with 13 points on the night, added the first bucket of the night at the 5:33 mark.
Bill Bussey added a basket on the Bobcats' next possession and Kevin Curran bombed a three-pointer, to post a 10-7 score.
But that's as close as Brandywine was able to get to the Shamrocks for the rest of the game, as they pulled away for a 19-8 lead after the first.
Chris Casey was able to open the second period with a three-pointer for Brandwyine, but a 12-0 run by Berrien Springs pushed it ahead even more with a 31-11 lead midway through the quarter.
Frazier and Bussey were the only other Brandywine players to score a basket in the second, as the Shamrocks took a 35-17 lead heading into the second half.
In the third period, the Bobcats again were held to single digit scoring, adding only eight points in the quarter. Berrien Springs added 13, bringing the score to 48-25, and extending that for the win in the fourth.
Bussey ended the night with seven points for Brandywine, while Elrod added four.
For the Shamrocks, Matt Demler led the team with 16 points. Shelby Wood added 13, while Ryan Little added nine.
The Bobcats have another tough night ahead of them as they host undefeated Bridgman Friday night for another Lakeland Conference game.
Tip off is set for 7:30 p.m.
In junior varsity action, Brandywine's basketball team took a 46-44 win over host Berrien Springs Tuesday. Leading scorers were unavailable at press time.
The Bobcats will take on Bridgman Friday evening at 5:30.