Waybrant leads Brandon girls cagers to defeat of Lapeer West 60-44

Despite their slow start, the Brandon girls basketball team is very much in the thick of the Flint Metro League race.
The Blackhawks continued their winning ways in the Flint Metro with a 60-44 win against host Lapeer West Oct. 2. The Blackhawks improved their record to 3-8 overall and 3-1 in the league, which puts them in second place in the Flint Metro, trailing only first-place Linden, which has a 5-0 record in league play.
‘The girls are learning ? that’s the key,? Brandon coach Bryan Ray said. ‘We took our lumps at the beginning of the season and we’re improving every day, so that helps.?
Brandon jumped out to an 18-13 lead after the end of the first quarter, then took a 30-19 lead at halftime.
In the third quarter, the Blackhawks built a 20-point lead, but the Panthers trimmed it to 10 in the fourth quarter. However, the Blackhawks were able to hold off the Panthers for the win.
‘We weren’t necessarily trying to score as we did in the third quarter,? Ray said. ‘We were working on some things and got out of rhythm. Our girls have to learn to play with a big lead.?
Lauhnna Waybrant paced the Blackhawks with 17 points, while Jessica Jennings added nine.
After competing against Holly Thursday, Oct. 9, the Blackhawks return to action Oct. 14 when they travel to Fenton for a 7 p.m. contest. Ray said the Fenton game will be key for the Blackhawks because the Tigers are ‘one of the top-tier teams in the league? and, along with the Blackhawks, are expected to challenge Linden for the league crown.