EDWARDSBURG — The Edwardsburg boys’ varsity basketball team was simply too much for the visiting Bobcats of Brandywine as they took a close game at the break and pulled away for an easy 54-35 Lakeland Conference victory Friday night.

The Bobcats came out strong in the first quarter and showed the home team that they were there to play. Both teams battled back and forth on both ends of the floor, but it was Brandywine that had the 14-9 advantage after the first period of play.

Brandywine was led by their senior Jacob Frazier with six points in the quarter, but the 3-point basket at the horn by sophomore Pierce Gleason not only gave the Bobcats the five-point lead, but also a little momentum heading into the second quarter.

The momentum didn’t last long as Edwardsburg’s Josh Kozinski scored five quick points and pulled the Eddies within two. A basket by Kyle Dale tied the game at 16, and that is when he and his teammates started to try to separate themselves from their visitors.

With the game tied at 16-16, Dale would drain a long-range three to give the Eddies the lead 19-16. After a couple of free throws from teammate Chad Tevlin, Dale would score the next five points for the Eddies giving them a 26-20 halftime lead.

For the Bobcats, Gleason would pick up where he left off in the first quarter as he would score four of the six Brandywine points in the second period, including another basket at the final horn of the half.

The third quarter is when the Eddies really did the damage. They would go on to outscore the Bobcats 15-7 in the period behind the sharp shooting of Kozinski and Dale, but also the hustle of senior Marcus Albrecht, who led the way with six points, all in transition.

“We played a great first half, but then they went to the 3-2 zone it got us out of rhythm, and our guards had some unforced turnovers. It just kept building,” Brandywine coach Nathan Knapp said.

Kozinski would lead the Eddies in the final stanza with seven of the team’s 13 points as the Eddies pulled away for the seemingly easy victory, 54-35.

“I liked the way we got up and down the floor. We started out slow shooting wise early, but once Kyle Dale got warmed up things picked up,” Edwardsburg coach Dan Gunn said. “I thought Marcus Albrecht got up and down the floor for us there in the third quarter and that made a big difference for us.”

Kozinski and Dale led all scorers with 19 points each, while Albrecht would chip in eight for Eddies. The Bobcats were led by Frazier with 14 and Gleason with 9.

The Eddies remain undefeated in the conference (4-0) improving to 6-3 overall. The Eddies will face the Bucks of Buchanan next Friday night.

The Bobcats drop their sixth straight bringing their record to 3-6 overall and 0-5 in the conference. They will host River Valley on Monday.

BRANDYWINE 35

Austin Searles 1 0-1 2; Jason Andrews 0 0-0 0; Michael Schoenleber 1 2-2 4; Mykal Toxopeus 0 0-0 0; Michael Shelton 1 1-2 4; Brian Exner 0 0-0 0; Brad Millin 0 0-0 0; Alex Erwin 1 0-0 2; Jacob Frazier 6 2-5 14; Pierce Gleason 3 2-2 9. TOTALS: 13 7-12 35

EDWARDSBURG 54

Chad Tevlin 0 2-2 2; Matt North 0 0-0 0; Ethan Zimmerman 0 0-0 0; Dominic Razzano 0 0-0 0; Josh Kozinski 8 0-1 19; Marcus Albrecht 4 0-0 8; Max Habicht 0 0-0 0; Kyle Slack 3 0-0 6; Kyle Dale 8 1-2 19. TOTALS: 23 3-5 54

Brandywine 14 20 27 35

Edwardsburg 9 26 41 54

3-point baskets: Brandywine 2 (Shelton, Gleason), Edwardsburg 5 (Kozinski 3, Dale 2). Total fouls: Brandywine 12, Edwardsburg 14. Fouled out: None. Varsity records Brandywine 3-6, 0-6 Lakeland; Edwardsburg 6-3, 4-0 Lakeland