Bobcats make history with fourth straight regional title
Published 10:09 pm Thursday, March 7, 2013
The Brandywine girls basketball team holds up its fourth straight Class C Regional championship trophy Thursday night at Bronson High School. The Bobcats defeated Hartford 56-43. (Leader photo/AMELIO RODRIGUEZ)
BRONSON — It was a historic night for the Brandywine girls basketball team.
The No. 2-ranked Bobcats (24-0) defeated Hartford 56-43 to become southwest Michigan’s first four-time regional champion.
Brandywine has established itself as one of the area’s top programs with five consecutive district titles and now four straight regional championships.
The Bobcats head to Tuesday’s Class C Quarterfinal in Jonesville against No. 3-ranked Manchester (24-1). Manchester defeated Adrian Madison 58-51 to win the Hudson regional Thursday night.
Brandywine won the title with a big second quarter effort.
After Hartford (19-5) had rebounded from a 7-2 deficit to take an 8-7 lead into the second quarter, the Bobcats went on a 19-6 run that all but sealed the victory.
Brandywine led 26-14 at halftime and despite a strong effort by the Indians in the third quarter, never allowed Hartford to get any closer than five points the rest of the way.
Brandywine coach Josh Hood gives his sister Mackenzie Shelton a big hug. (Leader photo/AMELIO RODRIGUEZ)
“We had one bad quarter, that second quarter,” Hartford coach John Johnson said. “We got a little frazzled. We let their pressure get to us a little bit and they hit a couple of big threes in that quarter.”
The Bobcats maintained close to a 10-point advantage throughout the final quarter and put the Indians away at the free throw line as they hit four of six free throws in the final 1:05 of the contest.
“It’s history,” Brandywine coach Josh Hood said. “That’s what I told the girls, we are part of history now. It starts with one thing and it’s phenomenal kids who work hard at the game of basketball. It takes a program to do this four years in a row.”
Freshman Emily Erwin led all scorers with 17 points for the Bobcats, including five of Brandywine’s nine 3-pointers. Mackenzie Shelton finished with 10 points and Rachael Ort nine, which included a trio of 3-pointers.
Brianna Edmonds paced Hartford with 15 points. Kaitelyn Smith added 14.
HARTFORD 43
Mariah Mireles 7, Brianna Edmonds 15, Kaitelyn Smith 14, Julia Kling 1, Rebecca DeLoach 2, Kara Weberg 4. TOTALS: 16 9-15 43
BRANDYWINE 56
Emily Erwin 17, Rachael Ort 9, Makenna Hartline 4, Tia Hullinger 2, Victoria Knight 0, Tammy Lee 5, Michaela Hartline 2, Brooke Smith 7. TOTALS: 17 13-21 56
Hartford 8 14 29 43
Brandywine 7 26 37 56
3-point baskets: Hartford 2 (Edmonds 2), Brandywine 9 (Erwin 17, Ort 3, Lee). Total fouls (fouled out): Hartford 15 (none), Brandywine 16 (Ort). Varsity records: Hartford (19-5), Brandywine 24-0
