It was not a good way to start the season for the Brandon girls basketball team.
After staying within striking distance of visiting Waterford Kettering in their season opener Aug. 24, the wheels came unglued for the Blackhawks in the second half, and the Captains routed the Blackhawks 71-38.
Brandon coach Bryan Ray said he knew the Blackhawks would be in for a tough game against the Captains. ‘They’re the best team in our area,? he said.
The Captains feature three players that Ray said are ‘college-level players? ? Kristy Bland and Chaz Miller, whom Ray said will likely play at Division I schools, and Danielle Clark, whom he said will likely play at a Division II school.
Just the same, Ray said he was disappointed with the level of desire shown by the Blackhawks in the second half.
‘We did not come out in the second half with the same intensity that we did in the first half,? he said. ‘Good teams that are disciplined and mature take it up a notch and see if you go away.?
Under muggy conditions at Brandon High School’s gym, both teams got off to a slow shooting start, in particular the Blackhawks, who did not score until sophomore Meg Donnay hit a jumper about halfway through the first period. Brandon came back toward the latter part of the first and trailed the Captains 16-10 at the end of the period.
Although Kettering continued to hold the lead throughout the second period, the Blackhawks were able to keep pace, and went into the locker room at halftime with some momentum, as sophomore Savannah Stedman drilled a three-pointer at the buzzer to cut the Captains? lead to 31-21.
However, the Captains began to pull away in the second half. Ray substituted frequently in an effort to find the right combination, but nothing seemed to deter the Captains, who outscored the Blackhawks 16-7 in the third to take a 47-28 lead after the period.
Kettering pulled away in the fourth period by outscoring the Blackhawks 24-10.
Bland led the Captains (1-0) with 17 points, while Chaz Miller added 15. Stedman was the lone Brandon player to hit double figures, scoring 10 points.
Ray said the Blackhawks would put in a lot of work at practice Aug. 25 to get ready for their next two games. Brandon traveled to Rochester Adams for a Aug. 26 contest, and the Blackhawks are slated to host neighboring Goodrich on Tuesday, Aug. 31 at 7 p.m.
‘We’re still a young team, and it was a learning lesson for us,? he said. ‘We’ll have to be in better shape. Our guards at times played real well, but they need to do it for a full 32 minutes.?