The Cassopolis boys basketball team continued its tumultuous start to the season by losing its fourth game in a row with a 60-44 loss at home against the Eau Claire Beavers.

The Rangers led for most of the game but got outscored 24-5 in the final quarter to surrender the win.

The play of Eau Claire’s junior forward Carston Harner and junior center Cory Young is what sparked the deciding run in the fourth quarter for the Beavers. Young scored 13 of his game high 21 points and Harner added 7 of his 14 points in the fourth quarter.

Cassopolis had trouble all night connecting on its shots, especially from behind the arc where they shot a woeful 4-of-18. Rangers’ coach James Moore feels that the shooting struggles are indicative of the team’s troubles so far this season.

“It’s the story of our season, we put up a lot of shots and we miss a lot of shots. I’m confident in our guy’s shot making abilities, but I feel like they’re putting too much pressure on themselves to make shots instead of shooting comfortably. We had plenty of good looks tonight but didn’t knock them down,” he said.

Ranger junior guard Kenneth Carson paced the Rangers with 15 points, sophomore forward Damion Brown added 12 points, and senior guard Tyler Gilliam scored 8 points.

Though the season has not exactly started out the way the Rangers and their fans have wanted it too. Coach Moore is still optimistic that they can turn this season around and he says it all begins with his players.

“We’ve got to get tougher. We’re fighting an uphill battle right now, we had some guys with injuries and other guys going through some other things, but the reality is for the most part we’re a team that is trying to find its way. They have to have the mental toughness to understand we’re going to take some bumps and bruises along the way, but we have to learn, move forward and grow as a team,” Moore said.

EAU CLAIRE 60

Mark Goff 6 3-3 15, Carston Harner 5 3-5 14, Corey Young 8 4-4 21, Antonio Futrell 3 0-2 6, Matt Bebe 1 1-4 3, Sevrin Dohm 0 1-2 1. Totals: 23 12-20 60

CASSOPOLIS 44

Mitchell Moore 0 0-1 0, Tyler Gilliam 3 0-0 8, Kenneth Carson 6 3-6 15, Damion Brown 5 2-4 12, William Wallace 1 0-0 2, Vashaun Morgan 2 0-0 6, Monroe Gomez 0 1-2 1. Totals: 17 6-13 44

Eau Claire 13 31 39 60

Cassopolis 18 30 37 44

3-point baskets: Eau Claire 2 (Harner, Young), Cassopolis 4 (Gilliam 2, Gomez 2). Total fouls (fouled out): Eau Claire 11 (none), Cassopolis 16 (none). Varsity records: Eau Claire 2-1, Cassopolis 1-3

Cassopolis…64

Lake Michigan…41

ST. JOSEPH — The Cassopolis boys basketball team picked up its first victory of the season Monday night with a 64-41 win over host Lake Michigan Catholic.

The Rangers (1-4) seized control of the non-league contest in the second half. Cassopolis led just 20-19 at halftime.

An 11-0 run to start the second half proved to be the difference. The Rangers took a 44-28 lead into the final quarter and cruised home with the victory.

Kenneth Carlson led the Rangers and all scorers with 15 points. Vashaun Morgan added 12 and Monroe Gomez 10 for Cassopolis.

Not one Laker (1-3) reached double digits in the game. Michael Allen finished with nine and Connor Roden eight.

LAKE MICHIGAN 41

Jack Hardman 7, Joseph Juza 3, Connor Roden 8, Michael Allen 9, Austin Froberg 2, Anthony Sarno 6, Shane Gallagher 6. Totals: 13 12-17 41

CASSOPOLIS 64

Mitchell Moore 3, Dwayne Morgan 9, Tyler Gilliam 3, Kenneth Carson 15, Taylor Baker 2, Damion Brown 6, Vashaun Morgan 12, Vinny Sopaseuth 2, Ryan Hawkins 2, Monroe Gomez 10. Totals: 27 5-11 64

Lake Michigan 6 19 28 41

Cassopolis 10 20 44 64

3-point baskets: LMC 3 (Hardman, Allen, Sarno), Cassopolis 5 (Moore, D. Morgan, Gilliam, Carson, V. Morgan). Total fouls (fouled out): LMC 15 (none), Cassopolis 16 (none). Varsity records: LMC 1-3, Cassopolis 1-4