By Ken at The Paper | Occasional Beacon sports correspondent

Bass Lake Canoes are knocking on the door of a .500 record, after a resounding defeat Friday of rival Nearbytown, 56-51.

Bass Lake’s record improved to 7-9, with a 3-4 record in Moonshine Conference play. 

Afterward, Canoes head coach Zeb Dreppelin was cheerful as a simile.

“Not only did our team win, we covered the spread,” Dreppelin said. “Of course I don’t gamble on high school sports or anything like that. Just makin’ an observation.”

Bass Lake fell behind early, a situation that has repeated itself several times this season. Nearbytown led 14-9 after one period, but the Canoes woke up in the second, and led 25-23 by halftime.

From that point, things went back-and-forth until, eventually, the game ended.

Canoes junior forward Epluribus Unum led the way, scoring 11 points and snaring almost nine rebounds. 

Next up for Bass Lake: Friday, Feb. 3, at Prairie Depths (9-7, 2-4).