By By JEFF FISHER / Vigilant/Argus
The Brandywine Bobcats and the Cassopolis Rangers were both looking for two things in Friday nights match up. Both were to get there first conference victory and to snap losing streaks.
Cass' Neal Bullocks made sure the Rangers accomplished both items by scoring 15 points and blocking several shots to lead the Rangers to an impressive 73-39 victory over the Bobcats.
The Rangers jumped to an early 7-0 lead, but the Bobcats' Matt Beaver and Matt Weiger drained three, 3-pointers to tie the game up.
Cass' Bullocks and Dan Stanage each had six points respectively in the first quarter as the Rangers took a two-point lead, 17-15.
Cass opened up a 28-19 lead before the lights when out. After an approximate 30 minute delay, Cass' Bullocks slammed home a shot to give the Rangers a 35-27 lead at the break.
The final two quarters were lights out for the Bobcats.
Cass raced out to a 45-32 advantage and outscored the Bobcats 18-12 in the quarter.
The Rangers outscored the Bobcats 20-0 in the final quarter dominated by Cass' height advantage and speed to give the Rangers their first conference victory.
The Bobcats (0-4, 3-5), victims of three straight loses, were led by Chris Casey with eight points, Matt Beaver with seven and Matt Weiger and D.J. Elrod with six.
"We destructed, dismantled. We stopped executing, went one-on-one, one pass shots. They wanted it more tonight, they really did," Brandywine coach Nathan Knapp said.
Cass (1-3, 3-5) was led by Bullocks with 15 points. Stanage and P.J. Smith both finished with 14 points.
"It's fun to win and it's fun to see them play when they are not playing timid," Ranger coach Josh Hood said. "The start was great and then Brandywine came back. Give credit to Brandywine. Nate is a long time friend of mine and he is doing a heck of a job.”
Brandywine now travels to Edwardsburg next Friday night, while the Rangers hosted Centreville on Tuesday (see related story)..
"This is a building block. We are getting better, the kids are starting to learn the offense and the flow and I'm proud of them. I think we are playing discipline basketball and our sportsmanship is there," Hood said.