By By JEFF FISHER / Dowagiac Daily News
CASSOPOLIS – The league-leading Cassopolis varsity basketball team welcomed rival Edwardsburg Tuesday night in a Lakeland Conference showdown.
The Lady Eddies, winners of eight out of their last 10 games, committed 17 first half turnovers that opened the door for the Lady Rangers to strengthen their first place lead in the conference.
Following a 58-36 victory, Cassopolis coach Floyd Foston was pleased with his team's effort.
"A real big win," Foston said. "The girls were hitting on all cylinders tonight. We played well on both ends. Very well pleased with their effort on defense and our patience on offense. We handled their zone well in the first half."
Cass seized the lead right from the start.
The Rangers, (9-2, 9-1), jumped out to an early 14-4 first quarter lead thanks to Dee Dee Hawkins' eight first quarter points, a large majority coming on a baby-hook shot.
Edwardsburg cut the lead down to a 16-8 lead right at the end of the first quarter, but nine second quarter turnovers by the Eddies gave Cass a 25-15 lead heading into the break.
"Only 17 turnovers? I think Cass definitely took us out of our game. They are so quick, we were not making good decisions," Edwardsburg coach Diane Robertson said.
The Eddies, (10-5, 6-4 LAC), trailed 29-19 after a Julie Harness 3-pointer, but Cass' Michelle James answered with a trey of her own and the Eddies could get no closer as the lead swelled to 48-27 midway thru the fourth quarter.
James led all scorers with 20 points while Hawkins chipped in 14. Tiara Williams added 11.
"Michelle is very talented, but she is still growing and learning, needs to stay focused and then she can make things happen," Foston said.
The Eddies were led by Harness with 10 points. Stephanie Koontz, who came into Tuesday's contest averaging 10.5 points per game, was held to six points. Teammate Chrissy Breisch also had six.
"We didn't focus on any particular player, we just wanted to come down and play some hard-nosed defense and they did a great job tonight. We knew that they had some girls that can shoot it," Foston added.
"James is a great ball handler, you back off of her and she shoots a "three", and you play her tight and she will drive in on you. They are a good team. I think Stephanie could have taken more, and I thought all of my players played timid," Robertson said.
EDWARDSBURG 36
Julie Harris 4 1-2 10, Steffany Streb 1 0-0 2, Patty Luebcke 0 0-0 0, Lindsay Moellenberndt 1 2-4 4, Stephanie Koontz 3 0-0 6, Kristin Toney 3 0-0 6, Chrissy Breisch 3 0-2 6, Christina Hans 0 0-0 0, , Kelsey Moreno 1 0-0 2. Totals 16 3-8 36
CASSOPOLIS 58
Robin Danzy 0 0-0 0, Kia Luckey 0 0-0 0, Dee Dee Hawkins 7 0-0 14, Taletha Andrews 0 0-0 0, Tiffany Williams 1 0-0 2, Nikitas Nelson 3 0-2 6, Michelle James 9 1-2 20, Taira Williams 5 1-2 11, Missy Allen 0 0-0 0, Becky File 0 1-2 1, Kenyah House 2 0-1 4. Totals 27 3-9 58
Edwardsburg 6 15 27 36
Cassopolis 18 25 43 58
3-point baskets: Harris (E); James (C). Total fouls: Edwardsburg 10, Cassopolis 13. Records: Edwardsburg 10-5, 6-4 LAC; Cassopolis 10-3, 9-1 LAC. JV score: Cassopolis 42 (Jeri Nelson 19), Edwardsburg 39 (Lindsay Harroff 14)