CAMERON — Superior size and aggressive defense allowed the Cameron boys to open up a big lead in the first quarter and the Dragons never looked back, defeating visiting Bridgeport 84-48 Tuesday evening.

It was the fifth win in a row for the surging Dragons (7-3) as both of their post players, Trevor Beresford and Lance Hartley, put up big offensive performances.

“We’re getting better each game,” said Cameron coach Tom Hart. “We’re playing better team ball and sharing the basketball pretty well. We still have a little ways to go, but we’re starting to come together as a team.”

Beresford led all scorers in the contest with 25 points and even drained an open 3-pointer in the third quarter. Hartley was not far behind him, scoring 21 points of his own.

“They both played pretty well (Tuesday),” Hart said. “Lance missed a couple of baskets inside early but then he started getting his groove a little bit. I’m pleased with the way both of them played.”

The Bulldogs (1-15) looked pretty good in the opening minutes, but the game quickly got away from them. Bridgeport opened the scoring with a 3-pointer by Colin Jackson and held a 5-4 lead after the first few minutes of play, but Cameron’s full court press defense started to get to them as the Dragons put together a 22-2 run and seized control of the game.

“I was pleased with how we started the game,” said Bridgeport coach Don Cash. “We broke the press pretty good and then we just went bonkers there for a minute and they extended their lead. When it rains it just storms.”

Cameron went on a 37-4 run that spanned the end of the first quarter and most of the second to take a 41-8 lead. A 15-4 run by the Dragons to end the first half made it a 56-18 lead at the break.

Despite the lopsided score, the Bulldogs came out of halftime competitive and traded the first eight baskets of the half with the Dragons.

“I thought we played a little bit better in the second half, but we’ve got to learn to compete for four quarters,” Cash said. “It’s been the same old story all year. If we learn to do that, and do that consistently, it’ll give us a shot in games.”

Cameron led 73-33 entering the final frame and by that time both teams had more or less emptied their benches playing their reserves. Bridgeport managed a 13-2 run late in the game to make the score look a little more respectable.

Behind Beresford and Hartley, Cole Burkett scored 13 points for Cameron and Chris McCauley had 11.

Jackson led Bridgeport with 17 points while draining a trio of triples. Daniel Spurlock finished with 12 and Aiden Tarr added nine.

These teams will not have to wait long to meet again, as Cameron will hit the road later today to play a makeup game against the Bulldogs in Havlicek Gymnasium. Cameron will not get much rest after that either as they are in action Thursday against Paden City and Friday versus Beallsville.

“We play four games in four days so we’ve got to be able to keep our legs and keep our composure and be able to finish out this week strong,” Hart said. “As long as Mother Nature is kind to us.”