BENTON HARBOR — A lot of people gave Brandywine boys basketball coach Nathan Knapp a funny look when they found out he put No. 1-ranked (Division 2) Benton Harbor in his schedule two games before the end of the regular season.

The reason why the veteran Bobcats coach added the Tigers was because if Brandywine wants to reach the goals they have jotted down for this season, teams like Benton Harbor will have to be met and dealt with.

Knapp said he got everything he wanted out of Tuesday night’s non-conference contest with the Tigers, except a victory. Benton Harbor used a pair of runs, one in each half, to pull away to an 85-61 win over the Bobcats.

“I told the kids they need to go strong because they are so athletic. If you don’t, they are going to come and pin it against the backboard,” Knapp said. “We got that dunk from Shane [Brown] and that kind of woke them up. They went on a 12-0 run.”

Brandywine showed no signs of being intimidated by the Tigers. In fact, after falling behind, the Bobcats rallied to take a 15-14 lead late in the first quarter. Benton Harbor would score the final three points to lead 18-15 heading into the second quarter.

Brown’s dunk and the Tigers’ run allowed Benton Harbor to open up a 46-30 halftime advantage.

Not to be deterred, Brandywine regrouped at halftime and made a run of its own to start the second half.

The Bobcats were able to cut the Tigers’ lead to 10 points, but could not get it under double figures. Knapp saw his team trying to run with the state’s top-ranked team and knew they were in trouble.

“We tried to do our thing, but they are too athletic to run with,” Knapp said. “I knew that, and I told the kids that. But we got caught up with running with them and then we made some bad decisions. A 10-point lead turned into 16 or 18 points just like that.”

Knapp is hoping Tuesday night’s experience will pay off tonight when his team travels to Berrien Springs to try and put the final touches on a BCS Athletic Conference Red Division championship. He also hopes it helps in the postseason.

“The kids know what is at stake tomorrow [Thursday],” he said. “I think they are starting to turn their focus, and they realize the importance of the games we have remaining. I have understood that the entire season. Now they are starting to realize it. They are talking more in practice and in games.”

All-Stater Carlos Johnson, who will play at Butler University next season, scored a game-high 33 points to lead the Tigers, who also got 15 points from Quindarius Davis and 12 points from Kentrell Pullian.

Kendall Chrismon led Brandywine with 24 points. Caleb Byrd added 13 points and Jordan Abrams 10.

Brandywine will need to deal with several injuries heading into the regular-season finale and districts. Timothy Cole is out at least two weeks after having surgery, while Carson Knapp and Abrams sustained injuries late in the Benton Harbor contest. Gabe Gouin did not play against the Tigers after suffering an injury at practice on Monday.

Knapp would like to have his son, Gouin and Abrams available for next week’s district, if not for the Berrien Springs game tonight. Tipoff is set for 7:15 p.m.