(3-20-24) Brandywine’s girls basketball team beat Covenant Christian 43-34 on Tuesday in the Division 3 state quarterfinals. The Bobcats were led by Ellie Knapp with 17 points. Kadence Brumitt added 12.

Brandywine (25-1) advances to play Lake City (25-2) at noon Thursday at Michigan State University’s Breslin Center in the State Semifinal game. This is Brandywine’s first appearance in the Final Four since 2016.

The winner will face either Rochester Hills Lutheran (18-9) or Ypsilanti Arbor Prep (23-4) in the state championship game on Saturday.

Lake City started the season losing it first two games, to Frankenmuth 39-23 and to Evart 42-41, since that time they have won 25 in a row,

The Trojans feature 6-foot-4 Wisconsin signee Alie Bisballe and 6-foot-1 Grand Valley State recruit MacKenzie Bisballe.

Lake City won their quarterfinal game on Tuesday beating Elk Rapids 36-28. It was the 2nd time the two teams played, in December the Trojans won 44-40. Bisballe led the way with 22 points. Trojans return to the state semifinals for the first time since 2019.

Lake City Coach Bill Tisron told MISPORTSNOW after the win…

“These games, we always talk, are roller coasters. There’s going to be high moments, there’s going to be low moments. Don’t get too high on the high moments. Don’t get too low on the low moments, try to stay balanced. I thought the girls did that. We got down in the third, no emotional change, we just stayed the course and kept battling.”

Alie Bisballe transferred to Lake City during her sophomore year to join MacKenzie after playing at Houghton Lake for one season. The Bisballes only played together for two seasons because Alie had to sit out her sophomore year because of Michigan High School Athletic Association transfer rules.