By Staff
CASSOPOLIS -- The visiting Edwardsburg Eddies used good shooting from the field and a better defensive effort to stop the Cassopolis Rangers Tuesday night in Lakeland Conference competition, 78-56.
The Eddies (8-9, 5-7) shot 55 percent from the floor compared to 34 percent shooting for the Rangers, who fall to 8-8 on the year and 6-5 in the league.
The game was close throughout the first quarter, however, the Eddies broke the contest open in the second quarter by outscoring Cassopolis, 19-9.
Leading 17-15 after eight minutes of play, the Eddies turned up the defensive pressure and outscored Cassopolis, 15-3.
Leading 36-24 at the intermission, Edwardsburg continued to apply the pressure and the Rangers continued to struggle at the defensive end.
Cassopolis had no answer for senior guard Derek Tighe, who scored a career-high 30 points to lead all scorers.
Nick Roth added 10 points for the Eddies, while Zach Rooney had eight points and a team-high 11 rebounds.
The Rangers were led in scoring by Simon Ballard, who netted 16. Will Loux had nine points for Cassopolis and Ashton Danzy eight.
The Eddies and Rangers will meet for a third time on March 4. Edwardsburg will face New Buffalo tonight.
EDWARDSBURG 78
Phil Bretschneider 2 1-1 5, Nick Roth 3 3-4 10, Zach Rooney 3 2-2 8, Nathan Peak 3 0-2 8, Derek Tighe 11 5-6 30, Doug Shuttleworth 2 3-5 7, Chris Nugent 0 0-0 0, Anthony Peak 1 2-2 5, Matt Horvath 1 0-1 2, Rick Finley 0 1-4 1, Robbie Sevison 0 0-0 0, Ryan Haines 1 0-0 2. Totals: 27 17-27 78.
CASSOPOLIS 56
Simon Ballard 7 1-3 16, Will Loux 4 0-0 9, Dan Stanage 2 2-4 6, Eric Brown 4 0-0 8, Ashton Danzy 3 0-0 8, Chris Franklin 0 0-0 0, Gerrit Hemme 1 0-0 2, J.T. Lee 1 0-0 3, Antonio Rockett 1 1-4 3, Mike Evans 0 0-0 0, Justin Lee 0 1-2 1. Totals: 23 5-13 56.
Edwardsburg 17 19 17 15 -- 78
Cassopolis 15 9 17 15 -- 56
Three-point baskets: Edwardsburg 7 (Tighe 3, N. Peak 2, A. Peak, Roth), Cassopolis 5 (Danzy 2, J.T. Lee, Loux, Ballard). Total fouls: Edwardsburg 13, Cassopolis 21. Fouled out: Stanage (C). Technical foul: J.T. Lee (C).