By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
NILES - A total team effort by the Brandywine varsity basketball team helped earn the Bobcats their first conference win of the season, defeating visiting River Valley, 53-49.
The entire game stayed very close, with no larger than a two point lead after every period.
After the first period, the two teams were tied at 12 and at halftime, Brandywine had the 29-27 advantage after a pair of free throws by Chris Casey put the Bobcats ahead.
Brandywine again was ahead the entire third period and ended with a 42-41 lead.
Casey opened up the scoring in the fourth quarter when he nailed a three-pointer to extend the Bobcat lead to 45-41.
The Mustangs then went on an 8-0 run to put them in front of Brandywine, 49-45 with just over three minutes to play.
That lead was short lived though, as a basket by Matt Beaver and Caleb Frazier tied the game at 49 with 1:30 left to play.
With the ball in Brandywine's hands, the Bobcats played a spread offense to try and run the clock down for the last 1:25 of the game.
River Valley was forced to foul with 13 seconds left, putting Brandywine under the basket for an out of bounds play.
Billy McDonald received the pass on the play, and drove the ball inside from beyond the three-point arc.
McDonald's shot bounced off the backboard, off the rim and into the bucket, giving the Bobcats a two point lead, 51-49, with eight seconds left.
The Mustangs had one last chance to tie the score, but on their attempt to pass the ball inbounds, it rolled right back out, giving Brandywine possesion by its own bench with four seconds left.
Casey was fouled when he grabbed the ball, putting him on the line for a one-and-one.
Both shots fell perfectly into the net, sealing the victory for the Bobcats.
Frazier led the Bobcats with 16 points and six rebounds on the night.
Casey added nine points and three steals and Adam Prescott had seven points.
For River Valley, Andrew White had 17 points and10 rebounds. Caleb Drydon had nine points and Nate Swords had eight points and 11 rebounds.
Caid also stated that two of his starters will be out for at least five or six games due to injuries.
Chad Kuntz hurt his shoulder and Matt Grandholm broke his finger. Both injuries were not basketball related.
Brandywine travels to Buchanan on Friday for another Lakeland Conference game. Tip off time is set for 7:30 p.m.
Junior varsity game
Brandywine's junior varsity basketball team grabbed a 54-31 win over River Valley Tuesday evening.
Danny Williams was the top scorer for the Bobcats with 25 points, Doug Rockett had eight and Josh Benjamin added six.
Freshmen game
Brandywine's freshmen basketball team was also victorious over River Valley Tuesday, 38-26.