By By DON EDEN / Niles Daily Star
NILES – Free throws were costly Saturday at Brandywine as New Buffalo outlasted the Bobcats 58-54, with both teams now owning three victories in four contests.
The closely contested match-up was decided at the charity stripe where the victors held a 23-11 advantage with senior Jordan Topinka canning all four of his attempts down the stretch to bank the win.
Topinka picked up two fouls in the first 1:18 of the game and the first 2:19 of the third quarter to limit his participation.
Depth was precious as a total of 47 fouls were whistled and the free throw barrage saw Brandywine's 28 attempts fall short by six to the Bisons.
"We have good free throw shooters and missed four one-and-ones in the fourth quarter, plus going 11-of-28 cost us the game," Brandywine coach Nathan Knapp said.
Senior Josh Benjamin provided excitement for the well-attended crowd with a block that classmates Bill Bussey (pass) and Danny Williams (layup) used to deadlock the score at 22.
A steal by Bussey and a pass to Williams again gave the Bobcats their first lead with 1:10 remaining in the half.
Brandywine's momentum changed though when ahead 25-22 and going to the line again to build the lead.
Junior Lucas Grosse of New Buffalo rebounded the miss with five seconds remaining and raced down court to drill a trey to knot the score.
Grosse led the Bison at halftime with eight points with Williams scoring seven to lead Brandywine.
"Lucas was huge for us with our senior leader (Topinka) being in foul trouble, but the game was called tight for both teams," New Buffalo coach Darrin Fatter explained. "Our depth is a big advantage and can play either way as the game goes."
Playing big for the Bison was 6-foot-8 junior Troy Robertson, who scored a dozen points in the second half and showed his prowess early in the third quarter until Brandywine's 6-8 senior Matt Harvey entered to limit his effectiveness.
The score was close the entire third quarter and junior Sage Lowe of the Bisons hit another buzzer-beater 3-pointer to deadlock the game at 41 with eight minutes to play.
Brandywine's Bussey bested everyone by scoring a baker's dozen (13) in the second half and was the most successful free throw shooter for the hosts by making five of six attempts.
Bussey scored 17 for the Bobcats, which was two more than Williams.
Brandywine's Benjamin also scored seven points and was the leading rebounder in the battled under the boards.
"Josh is only 5-8, but plays like he's 6-4 against taller players," Knapp stated. "We played hard and I love the effort the kids made, but will get there by eliminating silly mistakes. The Lakeland Conference is loaded and every game will be tough with a lot of battles like this one,"
New Buffalo was also victorious in the junior varsity match up, 61-39. The Bobcats won the freshmen contest 42-31.
Juniors Zach Edquist and Devin Toxopeus scored 13 and 10 respectively in the defeat, with Dustin Sater scoring 13, along with both Corey Luhrsen and Stone Hadley having nine points for the freshmen squad.
NEW BUFFALO 58
Troy Robertson 8 5-8 21, Jordan Topinka 0 4-4 4, Jack Earley 0 1-2 1, Sage Lowe 2 7-10 12, Alvaro Ledesma 0 0-0 0, Colby Loftis 0 0-0 0, Nick Woerdehoff 0 1-2 1, T.J. Forker 3 3-4 9, Lucas Grosse 3 2-2 10, Grady Bridges 0 0-2 0, John Bauch 0 0-0 0. Totals: 16 23-34 58
BRANDYWINE 54
Bill Bussey 5 5-6 17, Matt Harvey 2 0-1 4, Caleb Frazier 1 1-2 3, Noah Udell 1 0-0 2, Joshoil Benjamin 3 1-5 7, Danny Williams 6 2-7 15, Jacob Frazier 1 1-5 3, Lance Prescott 0 0-0 0, Dan Riedenbach 1 1-2 3. Totals: 20 11-28 54
New Buffalo 16 9 16 17 – 58
Brandywine 10 15 16 13 – 54
3-point baskets: Grosse (NB) 2, Lowe (NB), Bussey (B( 2, Williams (B). Total fouls: New Buffalo 20, Brandywine 20. Fouled out: Harvey (B)