The Superior Central boys basketball team began a stretch of three games in four days at home on Tuesday, Feb. 4. The Cougars were able to defeat Rapid River in this contest, 33-28.

“Another grind-out game with them,” SC head coach Adam Ely said. “Their personnel is a tough matchup for us. We were happy with our defensive effort, holding any varsity team under 30 points.”

Zander Bigger scored seven points in the first, and the Cougars led 9-7 after one. They fell behind 15-13 at the half and were still behind 25-23 entering the fourth.

Bigger netted five points in the final quarter, and Blake Tanner hit a 3. Solid team defense in the final minutes helped SC secure the narrow win.

The Cougars were led by Bigger with 21 points. Tanner had five. Scoring two each were Ryder Kroupa, Andrew Charlebois and Drew Begovac. Eli Valima added one point.

On Feb. 6, Superior Central lost a road game at Crystal Falls Forest Park, 65-29.

“It’s no secret we are going to have our hands full as everyone does with them,” Ely said. “They are a dynamic team. We went in with our best effort and fought hard, and you can’t be upset about that.”

Bigger paced the Cougars with nine points, and Kroupa put in eight. Tanner chipped in with five points, Charlebois scored there and Begovac and Valima added two points apiece.

Last Friday, SC dropped a contest with Bark River-Harris, 47-36.

“To have a back-to-back scheduled where the first night is maybe your longest trip and the second night is a Division 3 team is tough,” Ely said. “We didn’t have our normal level of prep for this one. After Bark River jumped out to a 9-0 lead, we recovered and took the lead back with a Ryder Kroupa basket to end the first quarter. The second quarter got us, as we lost it 18-9, and the rest of the game was basically a tie.”

Bigger led the Cougars with 12 points, Kroupa hit double figures as well with 11, Tanner netted eight and Valima scored three.

SC (7-11 overall) was at home against Munising on Thursday and will host Mid Pen on Monday.