PORTAGE CENTRAL — Visiting Brandywine faced its biggest test of the season and came through with flying colors.

The Bobcats travel to Portage Central to face the undefeated Class A Mustangs.

Brandywine (5-0) jumped out to a 21-10 first quarter lead, withstood a second half comeback and emerged with a 59-48 victory Tuesday night.

Portage Central, which defeated Niles and Kalamazoo Central to open the season, slowly cut into the Bobcats’ lead before finally getting it down to five points. But that was as close as the Mustangs would get as Brandywine showed its poise and a balanced scoring attack.

“We jumped out to a 14-0 lead and the girls were really excited about playing an undefeated Class A team,” Brandywine coach Josh Hood said. “They cut into our lead, but that’s what good teams do. But we did a great job of executing our offense and the girls showed the resilience at the end.”

Brandywine spread the points around all night long and shot the ball well from the outside, hitting nine 3-pointers.

Rachael Ort and Victoria Knight led the way with 11 points each, while Mackenzie Shelton added 10 and Emily Erwin nine. Ort and Erwin both had a trio of 3-pointers.

Reinie Thomas had a game-high 18 points to pace the Mustangs. Jessica Dornoff added 13.

 

BRANDYWINE 59

Emily Erwin 9; Rachel Ort 11; Makenna Hartline 2; Mackenzie Shelton 10; Victoria Knight 11; Tammy Lee 7; Brooke Smith 9. TOTALS: 19 9-16 59

PORTAGE CENTRAL 48

Reinie Thomas 18; Taylor Snyder 4; Jessica Dornoff 13; Lea Foerster 2; Andrea Nord 8; Sarah Casanto 3. TOTALS: 13 10-19 48

 

Brandywine 21 36 47 59

Portage 10 26 42 48

3-pointers Brandywine 9 (Erwin 3, Ort 3, Smith 2, Lee), Portage Schneider, Casso). Total fouls: Brandywine 17, Portage 14. Records: Brandywine 5-0, Portage 2-1