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

Justin Frommer, South Bend Tribune
·4 min read
Brandywine players celebrate a three-point shot during the state quarterfinal game at Portage Central High School on Tuesday, March 21, 2023.
Brandywine players celebrate a three-point shot during the state quarterfinal game at Portage Central High School on Tuesday, March 21, 2023.

PORTAGE, Mich. — During the celebration that he dreamed of for nearly two decades, Brandywine boys basketball coach Nathan Knapp took a tumble.

After his Bobcats advanced to the MHSAA state semifinals for the first time in program history following Tuesday's 71-62 win over Pewamo-Westphalia in the Division 3 quarterfinals, Knapp fell to the court at Portage Central High School amid the jubilation with his assistants.

There wasn't a manual or dress rehearsal for this moment that Knapp, in his 18th year of coaching, and his program have chased season-after-season. So he embraced every second.

Michigan: Quickness, quick start help Brandywine win first boys basketball regional title

"We have talked about getting on that court," Knapp said. "We are ready."

That court is Michigan State University's Breslin Center in East Lansing where the No. 9-ranked Bobcats (25-2) will play No. 8 Traverse City St. Francis (23-4) at 2 p.m. Thursday. The winner gets either Flint Beecher or Ecorse at 4:30 p.m. Saturday in the Division 3 final.

Brandywine wouldn't have been there without its late fourth-quarter surge against the Pirates. In a back-and-forth game that was tied at 62, the Bobcats ended the game like a championship contender with a 9-0 run.

"That last timeout, we were a minute and a half away," Knapp said. "(It's) how bad do you want it. They were locked in. It's been a dream for everyone."

The Bobcats were balanced with all five of its starters finishing in double figures, led by Byron Linley's 15.

Pewamo-Westphalia senior Jamison Eklund and Brandywine junior Jamier Palmer struggle for the ball during the state quarterfinal game at Portage Central High School on Tuesday, March 21, 2023.
Pewamo-Westphalia senior Jamison Eklund and Brandywine junior Jamier Palmer struggle for the ball during the state quarterfinal game at Portage Central High School on Tuesday, March 21, 2023.

On the flip side, it was a two-man show for P-W, with Jamison Eklund scoring 23 and Grady Eklund adding 30. That depth, Knapp said, has been the biggest difference for Brandywine's historic season, which has featured an all-time 25 wins ... and counting.

"We don't care who scores," he said. "We just want to win. It's not our one through five. It is one through 15. We have this nucleus and it is hard to separate them."

Finally on the big stage, the only job left to do is to finish it off.

More:'Special' comeback lifts Brandywine to Division 3 district crown

"They are fighters," Knapp said. "I just give them Xs and Os and try to get them to work. They are resilient when we are down. You just look at them. They got that look in their eye and they know (they will get it done). I am so proud of those kids. They are unbelievable."

BRANDYWINE 71, PEWAMO-WESTPHALIA 62

BRANDYWINE (71): Byron Linley 6 0-0 15, Nylen Goins 7 2-2 19, Jaremiah Palmer 6 1-2 15, Michael Palmer 5 1-2 11, Jamier Palmer 4 0-0 10, Robert Whiting 1 0-0 2 TOTAL: 29 4-6 71

PW (62): Jamison Eklund 8 6-6 23, Grady Eklund 10 2-2 30, Luke Smith 1 0-0 3, Kash Pohl 1 0-0 2, Ben Smith 2 0-0 4 TOTAL: 22 8-8 62.

MHSAA BOYS BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT

QUARTERFINALS

Tuesday, March 21

Division 1

  • Detroit Cass Tech 54, Ann Arbor Huron 49

  • Grand Blanc 64,. Rochester Adams 44

  • Orchard Lake St. Mary’s 55, Warren De LaSalle Collegiate 44

  • Muskegon 59, East Lansing 43

Division 2 

  • Saginaw 61, Cadillac 57

  • Ferndale 71, Goodrich 66

  • Grand Rapids South Christian 61, Hudsonville Unity Christian 38

  • Romulus Summit Academy 68, Chelsea 62

Division 3 

  • Flint Beecher 55, Detroit Loyola 49

  • Ecorse 57, Laingsburg 46

  • Traverse City St. Francis 72, St. Ignace 44

  • Brandywine 71, Pewamo-Westphalia 62

Division 4

  • Munising 53, Painesdale Jeffers 43

  • Marine City Cardinal Mooney 59, Taylor Trillium Academy 56

  • Frankfort 59, Hillman 57

  • Wyoming Tri-Unity Christian 54, Kalamazoo Phoenix 41

SEMIFINALS

At MSU Breslin Center, East Lansing, Mich.

Thursday, March 23

Division 3 

  • Noon: Flint Beecher (22-4) vs.Ecorse (20-4)

  • 2 p.m.: Traverse City St. Francis (23-4) vs. Brandywine (25-2)

Division 4

  • 5:30 p.m.: Munising (25-1) vs. Marine City Cardinal Mooney (16-11)

  • 7:30 p.m.: Frankfort (18-8) vs. Wyoming Tri-Unity Christian (21-6)

Friday, March 24

Division 1 

  • Noon: Detroit Cass Tech (26-1) vs. Grand Blanc (25-2)

  • 2 p.m.: Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (14-10) vs. Muskegon (25-2)

Division 2 

  • 5:30 p.m.: Saginaw (21-6) vs. Ferndale (19-8)

  • 7:30 p.m.: Grand Rapids South Christian (24-3) vs. Romulus Summit Academy (22-5)

FINALS

At MSU Breslin Center, East Lansing, Mich.

Saturday, March 25

  • 10 a.m.: Thursday Division 4 winners

  • 12:15 p.m.: Friday Division 1 winners

  • 4:30 p.m.: Thursday Division 3 winners

  • 6:45 p.m.: Friday Division 2 winners

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Brandywine beats Pewamo Westphalia to advance to state semis