NILES — Heading into the 2017-18 season, Brandywine coach Josh Hood needed to find the answers to a lot of questions about his team.

After beating visiting Coloma 40-22 in a non-conference girls basketball game Tuesday night, a lot of those questions have been answered.

The Bobcats are far from a finished product, but Hood is pleased with the effort his team has put in so far this season, and as it begins the countdown to the postseason.

“That is the first time that we have come out of the locker room after a game and felt we dictated the play,” Hood said. “They are very meticulas and Fred Paulsen probably has forgotten more about basketball than I know. He does a great job with his team, but that is the first time I thought we imposed our will defensively on a team.”

Playing its fourth game in a week, Brandywine looked a little leg wearying to start the game, and it reflected in a lot of shots that came up short.

With the offense struggling to find itself, the Bobcats turned up the defensive pressure even higher and forced numerous turnovers, which led to easy, uncontested baskets that finally got the offense rolling.

“We took them out of everything they wanted to do,” Hood said. “We had some breakdowns, but when you can hold a team who is tied for first in their league, I believe, to just 22 points, you have done a good.”

The two teams were deadlocked at 4-4 after one, while Brandywine outscored Coloma 13-4 in the second quarter to open up a 17-8 halftime advantage.

The Bobcats (15-2) would lead 29-18 heading to the fourth quarter.

Nicole Sachman dominated the inside for Brandywine, and finished with a game-high 16 points.

Kennedy Byrd added eight points and Zakiyyah Abdullah six.

Kayla Yore led the Comets (8-5) with 15 points.

Boys basketball

Undefeated Coloma survived the loss of starter Levi Wilkins and an upset-minded Brandywine boys basketball team 73-65 Tuesday night.

Wilkins suffered a large cut over his left eye with 4:04 to play in the opening quarter, and was transported to the hospital.

Play was delayed more than 15 minutes while the playing surface was cleaned and emergency personnel arrived.

When action finally resumed, the Comets grabbed a 19-13 first quarter lead, which it stretched to 37-30 by halftime.

Coloma outscored Brandywine by a single points, 36-35, in the second half to remain undefeated at 13-0.

The Bobcats dropped to 9-6 with the loss.

Coloma’s Phillip Caldwell scored a game-high 27 points, while Zack Goodline added 19 points and Robbie Schroeder added 12.

The Bobcats got 21 points from Jordan Abrams and 13 points from Jalen Briggs. Derrick Miller added 10 points.

Brandywine returns to action Friday night when they host Berrien Springs in a BCS Red Division doubleheader.