NEW BUFFALO — A red-hot Brandywine shooting night meant an early finish to the Class C girls district championship game at New Buffalo Friday night.

Defending champion Brandywine (21-2) poured in 32 points on 8-of-11 shooting, including seven 3-pointers, in a 59-19 win over Watervliet.

The district title was the sixth in the last seven years for the Bobcats, who advance to the Constantine Regional to face Homer (20-3) at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday night.

Brandywine scored the game’s first 23 points as the Bobcats’ smoothing defense and outside shooting was too much for the Panthers.

“We talked about Wednesday maybe not having the best of energy,” Brandywine coach Josh Hood said of a 73-42 win over New Buffalo. “I think they maybe walked in here and just assumed things. But I think tonight we came out here with a purpose. It seems like when our girls play for a championship, when the bright lights are on, they really persevere.”

Five different Bobcats hits 3-pointers in the opening eight minutes and five straight turnovers, which all ended in Brandywine making a 3-pointer, left no doubt that it was going to be a long night for Watervliet.

Senior Emily Erwin had four 3-pointers in the opening half, finished five and how has 75 triples on the season. She has hit 16-of-28 3-point attempts over the last five games.

As a team, Brandywine was 13-of-25 from 3-point range and forced Watervliet into 24 turnovers.

The Bobcats took a 49-10 lead into the locker room at halftime and made the first basket of the second half to start the running clock.

Hood did not play a single starter in the second half, but his team still ended up with a 10-9 advantage in scoring over the final two quarters.

Erwin ended the night with 17 points to lead all scorers, while Libby Moody added 11 and Michaela Hartline eight.

All-Stater Makenna Hartline had just two points, but was not feeling well according to Hood.

Logan Mizwicki had seven points for the Panthers.

Brandywine will face a tougher challenge in the regional as if it gets past Homer, the Bobcats will get either Gobles (22-0) or Schoolcraft (16-6). The Tigers and Eagles play the opening game at 6 p.m. Tuesday night.

“Probably one of the toughest regionals in the state,” Hood said. “You don’t see three teams with over 20 wins in a regional very often. We’ve got our work cut out for us.”

 

BRANDYWINE 59, WATERVLIET 19

At New Buffalo

WATERVLIET 19

Katie Schultz 1 0-0 2, Logan Mizwicki 3 1-1 7, Kara Liles 1 0-0 2, Alexis Kieft 0 0-0 0, Hannah Armstrong 0 1-4 1, Casie Gohr 1 0-0 2, Zoey Smith 2 0-0 5. TOTALS: 8 2-5 19.

BRANDYWINE 59

Makenna Hartline 1 0-0 2, Michaela Hartline 3 0-0 8, Alyssa Bolen 1 0-0 3, Jaleesa Garner 1 0-2 2, Emily Erwin 6 0-0 17, Makena Bowen 2 0-0 6, Libby Moody 4 0-0 11, Mia Stella 1 0-0 3, Rachael Szilagyi 1 2-2 4, Alexis Garcia 1 0-0 3, Cassie Luczkowski 0 0-0 0, Chelsie Luczkowski 0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 21 2-4 59.

 

Watervliet                  6          10       14       19

Brandywine               32       49       53       59

3-point baskets: Watervliet 1 (Smith 1), Brandywine 15 (Erwin 5, Moody 3, Bowen 2, Michaela Hartline 2, Bolen 1, Stella 1, Garcia 1). Total fouls (fouled out): Brandhwine 7 (none), Watervliet 8 (none). Field goal shooting: Watervliet 8 for 24 (33 percent), Brandywine 21 for 56 (38 percent). Rebounding: Brandywine 33 (Szilagyi 7), Watervliet 21 (K. Liles 3). Turnovers: Watervliet 29, Brandywine 16. Varsity records: Brandywine 21-2, Watervliet 10-12.