By Staff
THREE OAKS - The Cassopolis varsity basketball team improved to 10-7 overall and 6-6 in the Lakeland Conference with a 74-61 victory over host River Valley Tuesday night.
The Rangers led just 19-18 after one period of play, but trailed 41-32 at halftime.
The Mustangs (7-11, 5-8 LAC) outscored the Rangers 23-12 in the second quarter to open up the nine-point halftime advantage.
The Rangers reclaimed the lead in the third quarter as they outscored River Valley 24-11.
Leading 56-52 heading into the final quarter, the Rangers tossed in 18 points.
Cassopolis held River Valley to just nine points in the final eight minutes to secure the victory.
Neal Bullocks led Cassopolis with 16 points, while Paul Curtis and Dan Stanage both added 14 points, and Will Loux 10 points.
Caleb Dryden led the Mustangs with 15 points. Matt Grandholm added 11.
The Rangers are back in action on Friday night when they host rival Edwardsburg.
CASSOPOLIS 74
Neal Bullocks 8 0-2 16, Dan Stanage 4 6-7 14, Will Loux 4 0-0 10, Paul Curtis 5 2-4 14, John Young 4 0-0 8, Rodney Lewis 2 2-2 6, Lonnie Williams 2 0-0 4, Ryan Anderson 0 2-2 2, P.J. Smith 0 0-0 0. Totals: 29 12-17 74
RIVER VALLEY 61
Caleb Dryden 6 1-2 15, Jeremy Schaeffer 3 0-1 6, Chad Kuntz 0 4-4 4, Andrew White 3 0-0 6, Matt Grandholm 4 0-0 11, Chris Leidolf 0 0-0 0, Andy Priest 0 0-0 0, Jimmy Francis 0 0-0 0, David Lantis 0 0-1 0, Ricky Zeiger 0 0-0 0, Nate Swords 9 1-2 19. Totals: 25 6-10 61
Cassopolis 19 32 56 74
River Valley 18 41 52 61
Three-point baskets: Curtis (C) 2, Loux (C) 2, Grandholm (RV) 3, Dryden (RV) 2. Total fouls: Cassopolis 13, River Valley 12. Varsity records: Cassopolis 10-7, 6-6 (LAC), River Valley 7-11, 5-8 (LAC)
Cassopolis…66
Lake Michigan Catholic…47
The Cassopolis Rangers picked up their ninth victory of the season last Friday night with a 66-57 non-conference victory over host Lake Michigan Catholic in St. Joseph.
The Rangers held just a 15-14 lead after the first eight minutes of competition, but opened up a seven-point advantage, 37-34, heading into the locker room at halftime.
Lake Michigan Catholic closed the gap to a single point again in the third quarter, trailing 46-45 heading into the final quarter.
The Lakers outscored Cassopolis 18-12 in the third period.
The Rangers slowly, but surely pulled away in the final quarter as they finished with a 20-12 scoring advantage in the period.
Curtis led the Rangers with 20 points, while Stanage finished with 14 points and Bullocks 12 points.
The Rangers also got seven points from John Young.
Lake Michigan College was led by Paul Kaminski's game-high 21 points.
Dan Caban added 12 points.
CASSOPOLIS 66
Neal Bullocks 6 0-0 12, Dan Stanage 6 2-3 14, Will Loux 1 0-2 2, Paul Curtis 7 4-7 20, Rodney Lewis 1 4-5 7, Lonnie Williams 1 0-0 2, Ryan Anderson 0 0-0 0, P.J. Smith 0 0-0 0, John Young 3 0-1 7, Nelson 1 0-0 2. Totals: 26 10-17 66
LAKE MICHIGAN CATHOLIC 57
Elliot Berlin 3 2-3 8, Dan Caban 4 3-3 12, Nick Bovo 2 0-0 4, Paul Kaminski 9 3-6 21, John Bovo 1 0-0 2, Matt Curtis 5 0-0 10. Totals: 24 8-12 57
Cassopolis 15 34 46 66
Lake Michigan Catholic 14 27 45 57
Three-point baskets: Curtis (C) 2, Young (C), Lewis (C), Caban (LMC). Total fouls: Cassopolis 10, Lake Michigan Catholic 15. Fouled out: None. J.V. score: Cassopolis 55, LMC 43