By By SCOTT NOVAK / Vigilant/Argus
A 27-8 scoring spurt led the host Bridgman Bees to a 62-46 Lakeland Conference victory over Cassopolis Tuesday night.
The game was close throughout the first half.
The Bees raced out to a 17-8 first quarter advantage only to have Cassopolis (1-1, 0-1 Lakeland) cut the lead to 33-25 at halftime.
The Rangers outscored Bridgman 17-16 in the second quarter.
Cassopolis continued to cut into the Bees' advantage, getting it to 33-30 early in the third quarter.
However, Bridgman went on a 27-8 run which turned the close contest into a comfortable 62-39 advantage for the Bees.
The Rangers outscored the Bees 9-0 in the last minute and a half of the contest.
Bridgman outscored Cassopolis 18-8 in the third quarter to take a 51-33 advantage into the final eight minutes.
The Rangers outscored the Bees 13-11 in the fourth quarter, however, they could not catch up.
Dan Kunde led Bridgman with 17 points, while Dan Ponegalek added 15 points and Zac Nemitz 11. The Bees also got 10 points from Craig McNees.
Lonnie Williams led the Rangers with 12 points off the bench.
Cassopolis also got seven points from Neal Bullocks and six points each from Paul Curtis and John Young.
Bridgman also was a winner in the junior varsity contest, taking a 55-28 decision.
Larry Harris led Cassopolis with eight points.
The Rangers are back in action on Friday when they host Coloma in another Lakeland Conference contest.
First-year Cassopolis coach Josh Hood is the former Coloma head coach.
Tip-off is slated for approximately 7 p.m.
BRIDGMAN 62
Todd Hendrick 0 0-2 0, Dan Kunde 8 0-0 17, Dan Ponegalek 7 0-1 15, Nick Sweet 1 0-0 2, Craig McNees 5 0-0 10, Boo Ott 0 0-0 0, Zach Welsher 0 2-3 2, Jon Malm 1 0-0 3, Blake Ivers 0 0-0 0, Zac Nemitz 3 2-2 11, Pat Kading 0 0-0 0, Seth Coffing 1 0-0 2. Totals 26 4-8 62
CASSOPOLIS 46
Paul Curtis 2 2-4 6, John Young 1 3-3 6, Will Loux 2 0-2 4, Neal Bullocks 3 1-3 7, Dan Stanage 0 2-3 2, Ryan Anderson 1 1-2 4, P.J. Smith 1 0-0 3, Jonathon Foster 0 0-0 0, Rodney Lewis 1 0-0 2, Lonnie Williams 3 4-4 12. Totals 14 13-21 46
Bridgman 17 33 51 62
Cassopolis 8 25 33 46
Three-point baskets: Kunde (B), Ponegalek (B), Malm (B), Nemitz (B)3, Young (C), Anderson (C), Smith (C), Williams (C)2. Total fouls: Bridgman 20, Cassopolis 11. Varsity records; Bridgman 2-0 (1-0 Lakeland Conference), Cassopolis 1-1 (0-1 Lakeland)