By By JAMI GRANNELL / Niles Daily Star
NILES – Free throw shooting helped lead the host Brandywine Bobcats to a season opening victory over Marcellus Tuesday night.
"It was a sloppy game, but you have to learn how to win somehow," Brandywine coach Nathan Knapp said after defeating the Marcellus Wildcats 52-48 on Tuesday night.
Brandywine (1-0) was 13-of-20 from the free throw line, while Marcellus (0-1) was just 7-of-13.
It was a tag team effort in the first quarter between seniors Danny Williams and Bill Bussey, both on fire with their shooting, great passing, fast breaks and finishes.
Combined they scored all of the 18 points in the first quarter and a combined 27 points overall.
After not scoring for three minutes in the second quarter, Brandywine's Josh Benjamin put his first two points of 10 on the board from the paint. Freshman Jacob Frazier also scored his first two points of the game with a high-risk loft assist from guard Bussey.
The Bobcats had to really concentrate on the defensive end of the court in the paint, as Caleb Reuter was a huge force scoring 17 for Marcellus.
Senior Shane Bankston entered the game for Brandywine with a minute left in the first half adding a tremendous defensive effort, although it was hard stopping the Wildcats from close range.
But Brandywine held on for a 29-28 lead at the end of the half.
It seemed like a different team came out in the second half for the Bobcats, who were scoreless until 6:40 was left in the third, when Bussey drops in two points and Frazier followed with a 3-point play.
Marcellus took its first lead of the game 38-37 with 1:45 left in the third and held on for a 40-39 advantage heading to the final frame.
Both teams were scoreless yet again in the fourth until Reuter scored off an offensive rebound.
Freshman Lance Prescott came out and put the Bobcats in the lead again with a huge 3-pointer with 4:20 left in the ball game. Marcellus turned right around and closed it to within one, making it 49-48.
Brandywine's Danny Williams was fouled and sunk both free throws to ice the game for the Bobcats.
Williams led Brandywine with 17 points, while Bussey added 10 and Benjamin nine.
Reuter paced the Wildcats with 17 points. No other Marcellus player reached double figures.
Brandywine returns to action Friday night as it travels to Three Oaks to open up Lakeland Conference play against River Valley.
The Brandywine junior varsity basketball team opened up its season with a 61-38 victory over visiting Marcellus Tuesday night.
No further results were available at press time. Check Thursday's Daily Star for more information.
MARCELLUS 48
Cameron Booth 1 2-2 5; Chris Reed 2 3-4 8; Blake Terrill 1 0-0 2; Josh Lane 0 0-0 0; Kyle Kahler 0 0-0 0; Ian Shelley 3 0-0 7; Caleb Reuter 8 1-2 17; Austin Lamb 0 0-0 0; Leo Lewis 3 1-5 7; Jake Rowe 1 0-0 2. Totals: 18 7-13 48
BRANDYWINE 52
Dan Riedenbach 0 0-0 0; Danny Williams 6 3-8 17; Noah Udell 0 0-1 0; Lance Prescott 2 0-0 6; Shane Bankston 0 0-0 0; Caleb Frazier 3 1-1 7; Bill Bussey 4 2-3 10; Josh Benjamin 2 5-6 9; Greg Beaver 0 0-0 0; Jacob Frazier 1 0-0 2. Totals: 18 13-20 52
Marcellus 11 17 12 8 – 48
Brandywine 18 11 10 13 – 52
3-point baskets: Booth (M), Reed (M), Shelley (M), Williams (B) 2, Prescott (B) 2. Total fouls: Marcellus 15, Brandywine 18. Fouled out: None