There are times when playing a game means a little bit more to an athlete.

Cassopolis boys basketball player Dion Gatson played Tuesday against Brandywine after enduring a difficult day.

“My uncle died early on Tuesday,” an emotional Gatson said. “It was rough (playing against Brandywine). I just had to fight through the pain and think of my uncle. I was playing 100-percent for him.”

Cassopolis boys basketball coach Ricky Evans poured out his emotions for Gatson after the game.

“Dion played well under the circumstances,” said Evans. “I was proud of him. He gave everything he could. He didn’t have to play, but he wanted to play and he played well.”

Uncle Leonard would have been proud of Gatson and his teammates’ fight. Gatson finished with 13 points and nine rebounds in a game won by the Bobcats, 73-62.

Cassopolis, which trailed 30-11 with 3:02 left in the second quarter, pulled within 47-46 at the end of the third quarter after getting a three-point play from Gatson.

The Rangers were unable to force a tie or take the lead the rest of the way.

A bad first half cost Cassopolis. The Rangers shot only 24-percent (7-of-29) from the field in the first half.

“We came out kind of lazy,” Gatson said. “We just need to pick up our play early. If we do that we we should be good.”

Gatson also needed to pick up his play in the second half and he knew it. The 5-foot-9 junior guard scored all 13 of his points in the second half.

“I had to play for my uncle,” Gatson said. “My uncle wouldn’t have been proud of the way I played in the first half. I had to step it up for him and the team.”

Gatson’s extra effort was exhibited in the final minute when he grabbed two offensive rebounds against bigger opponents during one possession and scored on the second rebound to pull the Rangers within 66-59 with 1:00 remaining in the game.

Gatson was surprised after the game when he was told that he finished with nine rebounds.

“I don’t usually get that many rebounds in a game,” he said.

Cassopolis also got a big second half from Noah Woods, who scored all 12 of his points in the second half. He also pulled down a team-high 10 rebounds.

The Rangers most consistent offensive player was Brandon Glover, who finished with 14 points, including two 3-pointers.

“Brandywine came to play and they showed it,” Evans said. “Brandywine got offensive rebounds off of free throws. That’s been killing us all year long. We’ve got to clean that up.”

The Bobcats finished with a 35-31 rebounding advantage. Austin Knapp grabbed eight rebounds to go with his 21 points.

“We’ve just got to work harder in practice,” Gatson said on what it will take to overcome the loss to Brandywine.

A heavy heart figures to push Gatson the rest of the year.