Analysis: Brandywine is no longer a 'hidden gem' in Michigan. 'It's just a gem.'

EAST LANSING, Mich. — One look at the crowd inside the Breslin Center was all it took to see who’d have the fan support advantage Saturday, as a wave of maroon and gold overshadowed the little bit of green and black.

The game might have been played in East Lansing, but it looked like it was in Niles.

That’s the type of support Brandywine High School has had all month as it went on a run for the ages.

Although the Bobcats lost to Ypsilanti Arbor Prep, 33-30, in the MHSAA Division 3 girls basketball state championship game, it capped off a magical six weeks for Brandywine athletics as a whole.

More: Time runs out for Brandywine in MHSAA Division 3 girls basketball championship game

It started in mid-February when senior Gavin Schoff and junior Maddison Ward began their respective marches to wrestling state titles. Their journeys culminated March 2, with Schoff winning the 157-pound title in Division 4 and Ward the 170-pound girls crown inside Ford Field in Detroit.

More: Brandywine's Gavin Schoff, Maddison Ward win state wrestling titles

The night prior, the Brandywine boys basketball team had wrapped up a district championship against White Pigeon. The Bobcats would go on to capture the ultimate prize, winning the program’s first state title on March 16 against Detroit Old Redford.

It felt like the stars were aligning for the girls team to match the boys success Saturday. Even down nine with 30 seconds left, the Bobcats never gave up, cutting the deficit to three before time ran out.

Along the way, the support for these teams and athletes never wavered. Brandywine consistently had the huge turnouts, showcasing to the state what the school has to offer.

Front and center, literally, have been three seniors: Duane Thompson, Brady Wright and Bode Bosch. If you saw the Bobcat student section the last month, those three were in the front row, leading most of the rallies and chants. They rarely missed a game all season, but especially not as both Brandywine basketball teams found their way to the Breslin Center.

“It’s been great,” Thompson said. “The whole community and school, it’s been fun, especially with the coaches being teachers. We get to see it from their perspective, too. … With my friends Bode and Brady, we just have fun. And we win, so that’s even better.”

Usually walking around the gym is another super fan, Tammy Turpin. The most vocal supporter of the teams, she’d often rally the fans to get loud coming out of timeouts. Her voice was a little hoarse Saturday afternoon ahead of the girls state finals game.

“We’ve got each other’s back,” said Turpin of what makes the Brandywine community special. “We’re not like most towns. This community, I’ve been down and I’ve had surgery in the past, and this community has been with me all the way. … I will continue to give all my love to Brandywine. I love this community.”

The close-knit community has been aided by family connections everywhere you look. Boys head coach Nathan Knapp had his daughter, Ellie, playing for the girls team. Turpin’s daughter, Tammy Lee, was an assistant coach for the girls team, while her nephew, Nylen Goins, started for the boys team.

All the players and coaches know how special this last month-plus has been.

“It’s great to be a student at Brandywine,” junior girls basketball player Adelyn Drotoz said. “I love Brandywine so much; I’ve been here my whole life. We’ve all been growing up together, and the community is amazing. You get support all around.”

What this last month has done is put Brandywine on the map. During the television broadcast of the boys’ state title game, a package ran on explaining where the school was. The first thing shown was Notre Dame Stadium.

Safe to say, high school sports fans across the state don’t need a map to know where Brandywine is at now.

“I tell everyone all the time that Brandywine is a hidden gem in the state of Michigan,” girls basketball coach Josh Hood said. “Well, it’s not hidden anymore. It’s just a gem.”

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Analysis: What a six-week run for Brandywine athletics!