Brandon’s varsity girls basketball team had a district championship within their sights after leading Grand Blanc in the first quarter of their Nov. 17 title game.
Unfortunately for the Blackhawks, the Bobcats? star player, Pam Wilson, emerged in the final three quarters, and that led toward the end of the Blackhawks? season.
Wilson, who will be playing at Northwood University next season, scored 15 points as the Bobcats defeated the Blackhawks 37-23, winning a Class A regional championship at Fenton.
‘She stayed aggressive, and we had a couple of kids in foul trouble,? Brandon coach Bryan Ray said. ‘We maybe wore down toward the end.?
The Bobcats improved to 19-4 on the season, while the Blackhawks finished their season with a 15-7 record.
The Blackhawks led 8-5 at the end of the first period, but scored only 15 points in the final three quarters combined, including one point in the fourth quarter.
Ray said prior to the game the Blackhawks had hoped to get the ball inside to senior Savannah Stedman, but couldn’t accomplish that objective, as Stedman, who will be playing for Northwestern University next season, made one field goal (that being from three-point range) and scored eight points in what turned out to be her final high school game.
‘We were never able to get on track offensively, and we couldn’t answer them defensively,? Ray said.
Sophomore Danielle Kwasiborski led the Blackhawks in defeat with nine points.
In addition to Stedman, the two other Brandon team captains, Meg Donnay and Maria Schmidtke, as well as Kate Haas and Lauren Ross, will be graduating this season.
Ray said the five seniors set a positive example for the underclassmen.
‘They had a great work ethic, were all great students in class, and were terrific role models for the younger players,? he said. ‘They will be very much missed.?