LocalSportsJournal.com

BEAR LAKE — The Mason County Eastern boys basketball team tried its best to overcome a double-digit deficit on Thursday night only to fall 50-44 to Bear Lake.

The West Michigan D League game was played at Bear Lake.

The Cardinals chopped away at the Lakers’ double-figure lead, cutting it down to just two with 3 minutes left in the game, but that’s as close as they got.

Free throws down the stretch proved decisive for the Lakers.

“We defended and rebounded well tonight, but we continue to struggle with offensive continuity,” said MCE coach Mark Forner. “We have three games next week, and my hope is that we will see that improvement.”

Bear Lake built a 17-9 lead at the end of the first quarter, but the Cardinals bounced back for a 15-6 edge in the second and went into the half with a 24-23 lead.

The Lakers’ defense shut down Eastern’s offense in the third quarter and outscored the Cardinals by 11 points, 17-6, to take a 40-30 lead into the fourth period. Eastern had a 14-10 edge in the last quarter.

Junior Clay Shoup was the pacesetter for the Cardinals with 20 points, but he was the only Cardinal in double figures. Senior Nate Wing and sophomore Alex Tyndall added seven each.

Wing also had four steals and four assists, while senior James Drake hauled down nine rebounds.

The Cardinals (0-2, 0-1) travels to Big Rapids Crossroads Academy on Tuesday for a conference game.