By BY ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
NILES – Visiting White Pigeon posted no threat to the Brandywine varsity basketball team Tuesday evening.
The Bobcats jumped to an early lead, which ended in a 71-42 non-conference victory. The win brings Brandywine to 7-9 overall and stopped a four-game losing streak.
The Bobcats opened the game with a 12-5 lead after the first period, which was a relief considering the Bobcats committed numerous turnovers. Most of the points were scored on fast-break, easy lay-ups.
Brandywine's lead was extended to 37-17 at halftime, thanks to a 19-6 run during the second.
In the third, Brandywine held the Chiefs to just seven points, and posted a 55-24 lead entering the final period.
White Pigeon (0-17) attempted to come back in the fourth, outscoring the Bobcats 18-16, but Brandywine's lead through the entire contest saved the day and kept the Chiefs at a far-cry from the win.
Josh Benjamin led the Bobcats with 15 points off the bench. Bill Bussey contributed 12 points, including two 3-pointers and Matt Harvey added 11 points.
The Bobcats will host Edwardsburg Friday for a Lakeland Conference match-up in hopes of adding another win to their record.
Brandywine … 74
White Pigeon … 42
WHITE PIGEON (42) – Alan Harrington 2 1-2 5, Tyler Block 2 1-2 5, Ryan Slack 3 1 3-6 12, Josh Bontrager 0 0-0 0, Bryce Erbe 3 3-4 9, Ian Copenhayer 2 0-0 4, Andrew Eger 1 1-2 3, Adam Zapata 1 2-4 2; TOTALS: 14 1 11-20 42.
BRANDYWINE (74) – Adam Hancock 1 2-1 3, Danny Williams 1 5-6 7, Noah Udell 1 2-4 4, Zak Bollenbacher 1 2-2 4, Matt Duckett 0 0-0 0, Billy McDonald 1 1-4 3, Caleb Frazier 3 0-0 6, Bill Bussey 3 2 0-0 12, Kyle Low 0 0-0 0, Matt Harvey 5 1-1 11, Matt Beaver 0 2 0-0 6, Josh Benjamin 6 3-4 15; TOTALS: 22 4 15-23 71.
White Pigeon 5 17 24 42
Brandywine 12 38 58 74
3-point field goals: White Pigeon 1 (Slack), Brandywine 4 (Bussey 2, Beaver 2); Total fouls (fouled out): White Pigeon 21 (none), Brandywine 21 (none); Turnovers: White Pigeon 33, Brandywine 21