'Special' comeback lifts Brandywine to Division 3 district crown

WATERVLIET — Brandywine coach Nathan Knapp called the comeback "a special one."

"We've had some great comebacks, but this was special," Knapp said.

Indeed.

Ninth-ranked Brandywine earned its first district championship in four years Friday night in incredible fashion. After being outscored 17-0 in the first 10 minutes of the second half, the Bobcats rebounded in the game's final six minutes to overcome seventh-ranked Watervliet 42-36 in the Division 3 district championship game.

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Brandywine, whose record of 22-2 represents the most single-season wins in school history, will face Kalamazoo Hackett in Monday's 5:30 p.m. Division 3 regional semifinal at Coloma. Hackett edged Schoolcraft 42-38 in overtime Friday.

Defense again carried the day for Brandywine against Watervliet. The Bobcats have held 16 of their 24 opponents to 40 points or less while giving up just 38.8 points per game. And Friday Knapp's team put on another defensive clinic, limiting Watervliet to just one field goal over the final 12 minutes of the first half and grabbing an 18-7 halftime lead.

But Brandywine went ice cold to start the second half as Watervliet scored 17 straight points to go up 24-18 with six minutes left in the game.

"There was a lid on that basket," Knapp said. "We had three balls inside the cylinder that popped out. And we quit attacking. If we hadn't gone through what we did at Edwardsburg, we might have folded. These kids are resilient and they're fighters. But they may have taken five years off my life tonight."

Brandywine led by 22 in that game last week at Edwardsburg, but watched the Eddies rally to tie the contest in the closing seconds. But the Bobcats pulled the game out 55-53 on Jaremiah Palmer's two free throws with 1.9 seconds remaining.

And it was Jaremiah Palmer who came to the rescue again Friday. Palmer scored 11 of his game-high 17 points in the game's final 5:15. His two free throws with 2:56 remaining put Brandywine on top for good at 31-30.

"It was so nice to see Jaremiah step up," Knapp said. "When we were struggling to score, he didn't panic and really took over."

Back-to-back steals and layups by Byron Linley and Jamier Palmer increased the lead to five. And Brandywine sealed the deal by hitting seven of 10 free throws in the final 1:10.

How good was the Brandywine defense? In three of the four quarters probably as good as Wednesday when the Bobcats limited Bridgman to five field goals and 14 points.

"We got burned a couple of times with back door cuts," Knapp said. "We never let them get comfortable. The key is our quickness. They were physical and we don't have a lot of height. But we have quickness and can close out really fast. We do a great job of helping defensively and they were unable to penetrate."

Byron Linley added nine for the Bobcats, seven coming in the final two minutes.

"It was just a great comeback," Knapp said. "The kids played hard and showed their character. They showed what they're made of. It was a great high school game."

BRANDYWINE 42, WATERVLIET 36

At Watervliet

BRANDYWINE (42): Jamier Palmer 4, Nylen Goins 5, Robert Whiting 0, Jaremiah Palmer 17, Michael Palmer 7, Brock Dye 0, Byron Linley 9. Totals 14 12-18 42.

WATERVLIET (36): Wyatt Epple 8, Tyson Williams 8, Brady Bornas 7, Jacob Schaefer 6, Kaiden Bierhalter 7. Totals 14 5-10 36.

3-point baskets: Brandywine 2 (Goins 1, Jaremiah Palmer 1), Watervliet 3 (Epple 1, Williams 1, Bornas 1). Total fouls (fouled out): Brandywine 9, Watervliet 18 (Epple). Records: Brandywine 22-2, Watervliet 20-4

DISTRICT

DIVISION 2

At Niles

Monday, March 6

Buchanan 45, Dowagiac 44

Niles 44, Edwardsburg 43

Wednesday, March 8

Benton Harbor 65, Buchanan 40

Niles 52, Berrien Springs 47

Friday, March 10

Championship, Niles 65, Benton Harbor 61

DIVISION 3

At Watervliet

Monday, March 6

Cassopolis 63, Coloma 43

Wednesday, March 8

Brandywine 47, Bridgman 14

Watervliet 59, Cassopolis 37

Friday, March 10

Championship, Brandywine 42, Watervliet 36

REGIONAL

DIVISION 2

At Vicksburg

Monday, March 13

Grand Rapids South Christian (21-3) vs. Niles (15-10), 5:30 p.m.

Marshall (19-5) vs. Hamilton (21-4), 7 p.m.

Wednesday, March 15

Championship, 7 p.m.

DIVISION 3

At Coloma

Monday, March 13

Kalamazoo Hackett (18-6) vs. Brandywine (22-2), 5:30 p.m.

Centreville (17-7) vs. Lawton (14-10), 7 p.m.

Wednesday, March 15

Championship, 7 p.m.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: MHSAA boys basketball Division 3 district final at Watervliet