NILES, Mich. ― Brandywine boys basketball coach Nate Knapp is not bashful about challenging his star duo of Nylen Goins and Ryder Richard ― or any of their talented teammates on his No. 6 ranked Bobcats squad, for that matter.
The longtime Brandywine coach absolutely loved how his team, led by Goins and Richard, responded to his latest challenge Friday, Feb. 27.
Goins and Richard, the two senior members of the Bobcats, made their final foray on their home hardwood one to remember with a response worthy of champions.
Goins tossed in 22 points and Richard added 20 as the Bobcats closed strong to upend Cassopolis 62-47 in the Division 3 District 79 title tilt.
Brandywine, which claimed a state title two years ago, improves to 19-5. The Bobcats will face Gobles (19-3) on Tuesday, March 3 in the regional semifinals at 5:30 p.m. at Bangor High School. Gobles beat Bloomingdale 44-42 in overtime Friday night. That semifinal winner moves on to the regional championship contest next Thursday at Bangor.
Junior Lucas Williams scored 21 points to lead Cassopolis, which ended its season at 17-3. The Rangers had won eight straight, including a 63-57 double overtime win over Bridgman Wednesday night to earn a spot in the title game.
Knapp, who has coached his alma mater since 2005, saw his team play a fabulous final 12 minutes. The hosts led just 33-32 when Knapp called for a timeout with 4:06 to play in the third quarter. The animated coach made his point loud and clear during the stoppage.
Brandywine outscored the Rangers 29-15 from there. The hosts led 46-41 at the end of the third period before putting the game away with a 7-0 run to open the final frame.
“I told them that Cass was outworking us and being tougher than we were,” said Knapp of his discussion with his team during the pivotal timeout. “I told them they could be sitting and watching next week. It lit them up and they responded.
“The thing is that these kids are tough and battle tested. They have the hunger that I have. I’m just so happy for all 14 of them. All of them come in every day and work and sell out for me. “
Goins, who became the program’s all-time leading scorer earlier this month when he passed Brandywine legend Leonard Drake’s career total of 1,328 points, scored nine points in the final period. The tough 5-10 guard was the catalyst for a 16-6 scoring edge in the fourth quarter for his team.
Goins, who plans to play in college but has not decided where yet, was very motivated. He grew up early on in Cassopolis before coming to Brandywine schools in the fourth grade.
“I just wanted to win tonight,” Goins said. “I wanted it really bad. I grew up in Cass with all of those guys on their team. We just worked hard and played solid defense after coach called that timeout. We had to go out there and be dogs.”
The Bobcats, who have won 12 of their last 13 games after a three-game losing skid, led 17-7 out of the gate. The Rangers used a 7-0 run to cut the lead to 17-14 after the first period. The game was tied at 25-25 at halftime as the Bobcats stayed in it by going 6-of-10 from the free throw line in the second quarter. Brandywine made just one shot in the second period.
Richard, a six-foot guard, got it going in the third period. He scored 10 huge points with a pair of monster treys and a 4-of-4 effort from the line.
“When times are tough, I feel like me and Nylen need to step up,” Richard said. “We stepped up on defense after that timeout. We got some steals and pressured them more.
“They punched us in the mouth, but we bounced back. I felt like we started to hunt them. Me and Nylen were texting all last night that nothing was going to stop us from getting that trophy tonight. I feel like I’m one of the best shooters when I catch and shoot. That’s what happened with those two threes in the third quarter. I knew they were money.”
Knapp, who got drenched by his celebratory team in the locker room following the title, praised the character and toughness of his senior tandem.
“Those two are so tough,” Knapp said of his pair of senior stars. “Last year just killed them. They came back and have been carrying us. I’m hard on them, but they would do anything to win. They are special kids.”
Goins, who led his team to a 9-2 home record in his final prep season, is all good with being challenged by the fiery Knapp.
“He’s real hard on me,” Goins said of Knapp. “But that’s okay. Our relationship is really tight.”
Trevon Peterson-Evans, one of three seniors, scored 12 points for Cass. The Rangers shot just 5-of-24 from the field in the second half and also finished with 17 turnovers in the loss.
Charles Superczynski II, a 2010 South Bend Adams graduate, is the Cass coach. He previously was the girls basketball coach at South Bend Clay. His father, Charles, was a star basketball and baseball player at Adams, and his sister Dawn Huff is the former girls basketball coach and athletic director at South Bend Adams.
Will Hubbard, a 6-4 junior, also turned in a strong performance for the champions. Hubbard had 12 points to go with eight rebounds. Junior Emerson Gogley had six points and junior Elijhia Burt two for the Bobcats.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Brandywine finishes strong to win boys basketball district title
Reporting by Scott Davidson, South Bend Tribune / South Bend Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
