The Brandywine Bobcats boys’ basketball team started strong Friday and then used their height against Lake Michigan Catholic (0-2) to sweep the first week three-game set of games to remain unbeaten by winning 62-51 in their home opener.

“It was a tough week and really glad to pull out the win,” said Brandywine coach Nathan Knapp. “We didn’t have time to work on things so glad the week is over.”

Junior Austin Searles of Brandywine (3-0) sparked the hosts in the first two minutes by firing a pair of long range missiles to build a 10-2 advantage with 5:24 still to play in the first quarter, before the visitors narrowed the margin to 14-11 after eight minutes.

Defense and missed shots ruled the second stanza as senior 6-4 Jacob Frazier had to watch after picking up two quick fouls and the visitors held a 23-20 advantage going into the locker room. The lead could have been worse but the Lakers only managed success on five of 16 charity tosses and missed all seven of their shots behind the arc.

The Bobcats committed a dozen personal fouls in the first half and made only a pair of their six free throws as each team collected 16 caroms.

“Our sophomores (Jack Hardman and Connor Roden) really helped us on our run in the first half and glad for the team to get to the line more,” commented Catholic coach Tom Eversole.

Seniors Joe Frazee and Eric Shultz scored six and five points respectively to lead the Lakers with Searles reaching double figures with ten markers for Brandywine.

“Jake (Frazier) didn’t have his legs and picked up fouls early as did the whole team and we stressed that at half time,” stated Knapp. “We really came out and did what we had to do in the second half.”

Frazier along with junior Alex Erwin (also 6-4) were too much for the Lakers in the third quarter with 11 and eight points respectively and only had one missed shot.

Brandywine outscored LMC 21-14 in each of the final two quarters as the inside game won over the outside attempts by the Lakers with 31 3-pointers shot and the first triumph came with three minutes left on the clock.

“We shot a lot of threes because of their zone and had no answer for the big guys (Frazier and Erwin) in the second half,” noted Eversole. “We will keep on playing tough teams so we can get a shot at the districts at the end of the year.”

Frazier and Erwin scored 20 and 15 points respectively and each had eight rebounds with Shultz reaching the magic ten-point total.

“I love having big guys and it will be fun when the guards start taking off, but we need to be much better at the line,” concluded Knapp.

The Brandywine junior varsity also won with sophomore (6-5) Evan Hartman leading the way with 11 points in the 39-19 victory.  Classmates Brian Kline and Alexander Brooks totaled 10 and eight points respectively.

LMC 51

Eric Shultz 3 4-6 10; Jack Hardman 4 1-5 9; Ben Spencer 3 1-2 8; Joe Frazee 3 0-1 6; Anthony Sarno 2 0-0 5; Pat Brunner 1 1-4 3; Connor Roden 1 1-2 3; James Koenig 1 0-0 3; Austin Juza 1 0-0 3; Shane Gallagher 1 0-2 2. Totals 20 8-22 51

BRANDYWINE 62

Jacob Frazier 9 2-5 20; Alex Erwin 6 3-4 15; Austin Searles 4 0-0 10; Michael Shelton 3 1-2 7; Mykal Toxopeus 1 2-4 4; Michael Schoenleber 1 1-6 3; Dustin Sater 1 0-0 2; Aaron Marquardt 0 0-4 1.   Totals 25 10-25  62

LMC 11 23 37 51

Brandywine 14 20 41 62

3-point shots: (LMC Spenner, Sarno, Koenig) 3; (Brandywine Searles 2) 2., Total fouls:  LMC  23 (Brunner fouled out); Brandywine 18. Varsity records: Brandywine 3-0, Lake Michigan Catholic 0-2