CASSOPOLIS — With the state tournament in full swing, the Brandywine Bobcats look to win yet another Division 3 District championship. But to get there first, the Bobcats had to jump a minor hurdle in the Bridgman Bees, a team they had outscored 101-40 in two contests during the regular season.

Brandywine (20-1) made quick work of Bridgman (4-17) at Ross Beatty Jr./Sr. High School 57-15 to set up a semifinal clash with Watervliet Wednesday night.

Though the Bobcats pride themselves in March Madness, this postseason means a little bit more to sisters Maliklyyah and Zakiyyah Abdullah.

They have shared the court for the past three years, and with Zakiyyah set to graduate in May, both are soaking everything in.

“The season has been awesome for them,” said Brandywine coach Josh Hood. “You can tell they are really close and the way they challenge each other. They have a fantastic connection, and often you can find them giggling at something that others will have no idea what it’s about.”

“I’m going to miss the bickering the most,” joked Zakiyyah. “But really though, we do get on each other’s nerves on the court, but at the end of the day she is my sister and I’m going to miss her.”

“We trust each other,” Maliklyyah said. “We can tell each other anything.”

They also have figure out how to get the best out of each other.

“She [Zakiyyah] keeps me accountable for everything I do,” Maliklyyah said. “When I’m feeling down on myself for a mistake I made, my sister is there to simply tell me to do better.”

“I have to set an example for her [Maliklyyah],” Zakiyyah said. “When I am in my own head, I always think about what I can do to set a good example.”

This season together has been different than the previous two. On Nov. 5, 2019, the sister’s father, Askia, passed away at the age of 50, just six days before the season started.

Both agreed this season has been dedicated to their father, and its effect really puts things into perspective.

“He would come to all of our games,” Zakiyyah said. “When I didn’t want him to come, he was always there. Sometimes I look into the crowd during games, and I see everyone else’s parents there, and I don’t let it get to my head because I still want to focus on the game.”

The girls’ father was very active in their basketball development, even going with them to work on their game seven days a week.

“He never let up on us or allowed us to slip up on the smallest things,” Maliklyyah said.

“I had support when I traveled for games during my younger years,” Zakiyyah said. “I was always with him, and he is the reason why I play the way that I do.”

And it seemed all of the work has continued to pay off. The stellar effort of the Abdullah sisters helped force 35 Bridgman turnovers during the game. 

“Fantastic ladies and a fantastic family. I have been really lucky to coach them,” Hood said.

While the Abdullah’s were causing chaos on the court and creating turnovers, teammate Alexis Rhodes was taking advantage of the extra possessions and easy transition baskets to score a career-high 24 points. She did most of her damage in the second quarter when she scored 17 of those points on 6-of-7 shooting.