Lack of stops on defense cost the Cassopolis boys basketball team Tuesday in its BCS Athletic Conference game against Bridgman.

The Bees made 10 3-pointers and pulled away late in posting an 87-67 win over the Rangers.

“We couldn’t run man (defense) and we couldn’t run zone,” said Cassopolis boys basketball coach Ricky Evans. “Both weren’t working for us at all.”

Seven 3-pointers in the first half helped Bridgman erase an 11-2 deficit and go into halftime with a 42-38 lead.

The Rangers seemed to have the momentum going into the fourth quarter after Alex Emerson hit a shot as time expired to pull Cassopolis within 60-55 entering the fourth quarter.

Bridgman responded with a 16-6 run to take a 78-63 lead with 4:11 left in the game. In the fourth quarter, the Bees shot 70-percent (7-of-10) from the field and went 12-of-14 from the free-throw line.

“We weren’t very smart tonight,” Evans said. “We took too many chances trying to steal the ball. You’ve just got to play them straight up. You can’t overplay a person because they’re going to pass the ball to an open guy.”

Offensively, Cassopolis shot only 37-percent from the field (27-of-72) and were only 10-of-23 from the free-throw line.

Emerson scored 19 points to lead the Rangers. Bryce Saxton added 14 points and six rebounds, while Matt Pittman and Deion Gatson each totaled 11 points. Pittman also grabbed 18 rebounds.

Nick Knowlton scored 18 points to lead a balanced Bridgman offense. Cam Mazurik added 15 points and 10 rebounds.
BRIDGMAN 87, CASSOPOLIS 67

At Cassopolis

BRIDGMAN 87

Devin Hays 10, Ryan Chang 6, Julian Sheriff 7, Cam Mazurik 15, Nick Knowlton 18, Collin Gaishin 9, Drew Dow 8, Kole Hanke 12, John Hess 2, Zach Ott 0. TOTALS: 28 21-28 87.

CASSOPOLIS 67

Matt Pittman 11, Brandon Anderson 4, Alex Emerson 19, Bryce Saxton 14, Deion Gatson 11, Kiambu Gary 4, Shane Los 2, Xander Smith 0, Trevor Bruens 0, Micha Welch 2, Brylan Glover 0. TOTALS: 27 10-23 67.
Bridgman       18       42       60       87
Cassopolis      15       38       55       67
3-point baskets: Bridgman 10 (Mazurik 3, Hays 2, Knowlton 2, Hanke 2, Chang), Cassopolis 3 (Saxton 2, Gatson). Total fouls (fouled out): Bridgman 19 (Hays), Cassopolis 21 (none). Shooting: Bridgman 28-of-65 for 43-percent, Cassopolis 27-of-72 for 37-percent. Rebounding: Bridgman 42 (Mazurik 10), Cassopolis 49 (Pittman 18). Turnovers: Bridgman 13, Cassopolis 18. Varsity records: Bridgman 3-0, Cassopolis 1-2.