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Brandywine's Carlie Newman picks up a ball on the way to the basket Thursday night against Bridgman. Newman finished with 17 points. (Daily Star photo/SCOTT NOVAK)
By SCOTT NOVAK
Niles Daily Star
A slow start wasn’t exactly what Brandywine coach Josh Hood expected or wanted from his undefeated basketball team.
So the Bobcats turned up the intensity in the second quarter and rolled up a 17-point halftime lead on their way to a 52-22 Lakeland Conference victory over Bridgman in girls’ basketball play Thursday night.
Brandywine (6-0, 3-0 Lakeland) led just 14-11 after eight minutes of play.
Thanks to a couple of 3-pointers from Bridgman’s Brandi Gareau, the Bees were able to stick right with the Bobcats.
But that all changed in the second quarter.
Brandywine began to find the range from the field and its defensive pressure limited Bridgman to just a basket.
The result was a 17-point halftime lead as the Bobcats opened up a 30-13 advantage.
From there, the Bobcats made it look easy. However, first-year coach Josh Hood said it wasn’t.
“It’s never easy,” Hood said following the game. “These teams are good teams. We’re trying to play at a fast level and I don’t think teams have seen that in the past. Teams are going to adapt to what we’re doing and we’re going to have to make adjustments.”
Morgan Smallwood and Carlie Newman did much of the damage, combining for 12 of the Bobcats’ 16 points in the period.
“Carlie is obviously a nice offensive weapon, but we have other girls that can score,” Hood said. “I’m really proud of Morgan Smallwood, Nicole Newman and Mackenzie Shelton. Those three girls did a really good job tonight.”
Not much changed in the second half.
In fact, Brandywine scored more points in the third quarter (14) than Bridgman did in the entire second half (9).
The Bobcats opened up a 44-17 advantage heading to the final quarter.
Newman finished with a game-high 17 points and six steals, while Smallwood finished with 15 points.
Brandywine also got seven points from both Mackenzie Shelton and Kelsey Prestly, who had a team-high six rebounds. She also had five steals.
Shelton also had six assists, as did Nicole Newman, who finished with five points.
Gareau scored eight points for the Bees, who also got six points from Rachel Swords.
Bridgman won the junior varsity contest 31-28.
Jenna Smith led the Bobcats with seven points. Victoria Knight and Morgan Antus added six and five points respectively.
The Lady Bobcats are back in action on Jan. 5 when it travels to Berrien Springs.
BRIDGMAN 22
Anna Schmaltz 0 0-0 0; Melanie Frye 1 0-0 3; Lisa Bowman 0 1-2 1; Taylor Tuszynski 0 0-0 0; Niki Streffling 0 2-2 2; Brandi Gareau 3 0-1 8; Stephanie Burkhard 0 0-0 0; Alyssa Krynicki 1 0-0 2; Rachel Swords 3 0-1 6. TOTALS: 8 3-6 22
BRANDYWINE 52
Carlie Newman 7 0-0 17; Nicole Newman 2 0-0 5; Michaela Greer 0 0-0 0; Mackenzie Shelton 3 0-0 7; Kelsey Prestly 3 1-2 7; Morgan Smallwood 7 0-0 15; Teila Smith 0 1-4 1; Lauren Leonard 0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 22 2-6 52
Bridgman 11 13 17 22
Brandywine 14 30 44 52
3-point baskets: Bridgman 3 (Frye 1, Gareau 2), Brandywine 6 (C. Newman 3, N. Newman 1, Shelton 1, Smallwood 1). Total fouls: Bridgman 6, Brandywine 12. Fouled out: None. Varsity records: Brandywine 6-0, 3-0 Lakeland; Bridgman 0-4, 0-2 Lakeland
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