The junior was one of two players in double figures scoring for the Bulldogs as they improved to 4-1 in the CAAC Red.
MASON — Luke Goss never really had a chance to fully prepare for his junior season of basketball.
A pair of injuries interfered with Goss having the opportunity to boost his game
A broken finger in May limited Goss from doing summer activities with the Mason boys basketball team.
Goss then broke the exact same finger again during football season which led to a delayed start to his return to the basketball court for the Bulldogs.
"When I came back it made me want it even more," Goss said.
And Goss has made his mark for Mason since he joined the lineup in mid-December and has emerged as its leading scorer.
The latest impact made by Goss came Friday, Jan. 16 as he sparked the Bulldogs in their 59-46 victory over Eastern in a battle for first place in the CAAC Red.
Goss had 12 of his 17 points in the second half while helping Mason (6-6, 4-1) end the first round of league play tied atop the CAAC Red standings with Williamston, who they host Friday, Jan. 23.
"It was huge," Goss said. "We had some losses in the last couple weeks and we needed a big bounce-back game. We beat a good Eastern team tonight and I think that was a bounce-back game for sure."
Goss provided a spark during a third quarter where Mason took the lead for a good. He had a stretch during the quarter where he scored 10 straight points for the Bulldogs and added another basket later in the quarter. That helped Mason turn a 31-27 halftime deficit into a 45-37 lead entering the final quarter.
First-year Mason coach Chris Bondsteel is proud of the leadership and effort Goss has displayed for his team as he's made his mark despite the finger injury limiting his offseason work.
"(Goss is) a football kid. He does a lot of things well for the football team as well but the injury put him way back," Bondsteel said. "Ever since he's been back he's been flying around. He plays the hardest of any guy on my team. I'm just very happy for Luke Goss. Shots went in today. I expect that from him. He can shoot it. He's been off to a slow start but some of that is him just getting his legs started with the delay in the season."
Goss was one of two players in double figures scoring for the Bulldogs in Friday's win. Senior Mason Dowdy finished with a game-high 20 points for Mason, which included 10 in the opening quarter.
Ian Curtis had 11 points and Raul Romero scored 10 points for Eastern (6-5, 3-2).
Contact Brian Calloway at [email protected]. Follow him on X @brian_calloway and Bluesky @briancalloway.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Mason boys basketball tops Eastern in CAAC Red battle for first
Category: General Sports
