Brandon’s varsity girls basketball team shook off a long layoff to win their league opener.
The Blackhawks put the clamps on visiting Clio in the second half to earn a 51-38 win Sept. 20. Brandon improved to 4-1 overall and 1-0 in the Flint Metro League, while Clio fell to 2-3 overall and 0-1 in the league.
It was the first time the Blackhawks have faced Clio since the Mustangs transferred from the Big 9 Conference to the Flint Metro League for the 2005-06 school year.
‘They were a little bigger team than I thought,? Brandon coach Bryan Ray said. ‘They’ll be a nice addition to the Flint Metro.?
Ray said the Blackhawks had some difficulty shrugging off their game rust from their 12-day hiatus following their Sept. 8 game against Flint Southwestern Academy.
‘You can’t dictate that speed and tempo in practice,? he said. ‘I was very happy with our first half offensively, but not so happy defensively. We made some adjustments going into the second half, and it showed. We outscored them 12-5 in the third quarter.?
Brandon held a three-point lead. 25-22, at the half before pulling away in the second half for the win.
Savannah Stedman led the Blackhawks in scoring with 17 points, while four Blackhawks ? Jessica Liebner, Brooke Schaefer, Mikki Nuccio and Katrina Hibbs ? added six points each.
Next week, the Blackhawks travel to Holly Sept. 26 before returning home for a key Flint Metro game against Fenton Sept. 28.