'It's been an amazing run.' Brandywine falls in Michigan Division 3 boys semifinal

EAST LANSING, Mich. — Brandywine's magical boys basketball season ended in tears Thursday afternoon at the Breslin Center, just one step from what would have been its first state championship appearance.

The Bobcats fell to Traverse City St. Francis, 46-36, in the Division 3 semifinal at Michigan State's campus. The Gladiators advance to Saturday's final against Flint Beecher, coached by former MSU forward Marquise Gray.

Off to East Lansing:Brandywine advances to Division 3 semifinals for first time

"We just couldn't get over the hump,' said Brandywine head coach Nathan Knapp afterward. "(The players) did everything they could do, we just didn't finish some shots tonight. I'm happy for these kids and the season they have had. It has been an amazing run."

There was plenty to smile about all season as Brandywine compiled a 25-3 record, which is the most wins in program history, and claimed its first regional championship and quarterfinal victory. But on Thursday the Bobcats couldn't summon the offense it needed with a season-low point total. The team's leading scorer, Jaremiah Palmer, led the way with eight points.

Just two days earlier the Bobcats scored 71 points against Pewamo-Westphalia in the quarterfinal, and all five starters reached double figures.

"They did a good job stopping our penetration," Knapp said. "Their length affected some of our passes. Everything was off a little tonight. It was one of those nights."

The Bobcats had no answers for St. Francis' Wyatt Nausadis, who scored a game-high 21 points, and took control of a tight contest late in the fourth quarter, where neither team could find its rythyem.

Along with Jaremiah Palmer, Byren Linley added seven points and Michael Palmer chipped in six points before fouling out midway through the final stanza.

"It meant everything for me," said Michael Palmer, a senior captain, of the Bobcats' tourney run. "We didn't expect this at the beginning of the season."

Thursday was Brandywine's first loss since Feb. 17 as it now heads into an offseason of what could have been. The good news is that aside from Michael Palmer, four starters are set to return in 2023-24.

"Sometimes you have those nights," Knapp said. "They get frustrated because they worked so hard, but they fought until the very end."

ST. FRANCIS 46, BRANDYWINE 36

TC ST. FRANCIS (46): Wyatt Nausadis 8 4-6 21, Drew Breimayer 3 0-0 6, Joey Donahue 3 2-2 8, Owen Somerville 1 0-0 2, John Hagelstein 4 1-7 9 TOTAL: 19 7-15 46

BRANDYWINE (36): Jaremiah Palmer 4 0-0 8, Jamier Palmer 3 0-0 6, Nylen Goins 1 0-0 3, Byron Linley 3 0-0 7, Michael Palmer 2 2-3 6, Brock Dye 2 0-0 4, Robert Whiting 1 0-0 2 TOTAL: 16 2-3 36

3-point baskets: Traverse City St. Francis 1 (Nausadis 1), Brandywine 2 (Goins 1, Linley 1). Field goal shooting: Traverse City St. Francis 19 for 46 (41 percent), Brandywine 16 for 44 (36 percent). Rebounding: Traverse City St. Francis 36 (Hagelstein 15), Brandywine 24 (Jamier Palmer 9). Turnovers: Traverse City St. Francis 13, Brandywine 14. Total fouls (fouled out): Traverse City St. Francis 5, Brandywine 12 (M. Palmer). Records: Traverse City St. Francis 24-4, Brandywine 25-3

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Brandywine falls to Traverse City St. Francis in MHSAA semifinals