BCS League

Last updated

Berrien-Cass-St. Joseph League
BCS League Logo (U.S.A High School Sports Conference).jpg
Conference Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA)
Founded2014
No. of teams3 Class C, 6 Class D
RegionSouthwest Michigan
Locations
BCS League Geographic Footprint Map.png

The Berrien-Cass-St. Joseph (BCS) League is an athletic conference for high schools in southwest Michigan. Founded in 2014 with the inaugural season of play in 2014-15, the conference aspired to grow into a Southwest Michigan "super conference" with membership extending across all MHSAA classes and organized into divisions of schools with similar enrollments. Periodic realignment of divisions allowed members to remain in competition with like-sized schools within the conference thereby avoiding the disruptive effects of conference switching due to changing enrollment. The conference had a unique scheduling philosophy that did not force members to play against conference opponents in different divisions and respected the freedom of members to schedule rivals and other willing conference opponents regardless of size or division. [1] [2]

Contents

Between 2017 and 2021, the BCS experienced frequent membership changes with eight schools departing & five schools joining. A final attempt to realize its "super-conference" aspiration was attempted in 2019, when membership invitations were extended to ten schools of diverse enrollments. [3] Niles and South Haven were the only two that accepted. However, Niles departed after only a single season and South Haven exited after two seasons. When expansion proved unsuccessful, the remaining larger schools decided to leave for other conferences. [4] Beginning with the 2022-2023 season, the BCS transitioned into being a league catering to small public and private schools in southwest Michigan.

Boys

Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Golf, Soccer, Tennis, Track and Field, Wrestling

Girls

Basketball, Cross Country, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, Track & Field, Volleyball

Member schools

There are currently 9 member schools. The geographic footprint of the league includes Berrien, Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph and Van Buren counties in Michigan.

Current members

School data in the table below is current for the 2023-24 season according to the MHSAA website. [5]

SchoolLocationMascotColorsEnrollmentClassSports DivisionFootball DivisionAffiliationJoinedPrevious Conference
Benton Harbor Countryside Academy Benton Township CougarsBlue & White179CBCSn/aPublic Charter2016Red Arrow Conference
Covert Covert Township BulldogsNavy Blue & Gold107DBCSn/aPublic2017 [6] Southwestern Athletic Conference
Eau Claire Eau Claire Fighting BeaversMaroon & White175CBCSn/a †Public2020 [7] Southwest 10 Conference
Marcellus Howardsville Christian Flowerfield Township EaglesRed & White62DBCSn/aPrivate2016Red Arrow Conference
New Buffalo New Buffalo BisonsRoyal Blue & Gold178CBCSn/a †Public2014 [8] Red Arrow Conference
Our Lady of the Lake Catholic St. Joseph LakersRoyal Blue, Gold & White61DBCSn/a †Private2014 [8] Red Arrow Conference
St. Joseph Michigan Lutheran Royalton Township TitansPurple & White114DBCSn/a †Private2015 [9] Red Arrow Conference
Three Oaks River Valley Chikaming Township MustangsNavy & White155DBCSn/aPublic2015 [9] Red Arrow Conference
Watervliet Grace Christian Bainbridge Township PatriotsRoyal Blue, Gold & White19DBCSn/aPrivate2016Red Arrow Conference

† 8-man football team that is a member of the Southwest Michigan 8-man Football League [10]

Former members

SchoolLocationJoinedPrevious ConferenceDepartedSuccessive Conference
Berrien Springs Shamrocks Berrien Springs 2015 Wolverine Conference 2022 Lakeland Conference
Bridgman Bees Bridgman 2014 Lakeland Athletic Conference 2022Southwestern Athletic Conference
Bronson Vikings Bronson 2014St. Joseph Valley League2017Big 8 Conference
Buchanan Bucks Buchanan 2014 Lakeland Athletic Conference 2022 Lakeland Conference
Cassopolis Rangers Jefferson Township 2014 Lakeland Athletic Conference 2017Southwest 10 Conference
Centreville Bulldogs Centreville 2014St. Joseph Valley League2017Southwest 10 Conference
Comstock Colts Comstock Township 2015Kalamazoo Valley Association2021Southwest 10 Conference
Lawrence Tigers Lawrence 2015Southwestern Athletic Conference2022Southwest 10 Conference
Mendon Hornets Mendon 2014St. Joseph Valley League2017Southwest 10 Conference
Niles Vikings Niles 2020 Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference 2021 Wolverine Conference
Brandywine Bobcats Niles Township 2014 Lakeland Athletic Conference 2022 Lakeland Conference
Parchment Panthers Parchment 2015Kalamazoo Valley Association2020Southwestern Athletic Conference
South Haven Rams South Haven 2020 Wolverine Conference 2022Southwestern Athletic Conference
White Pigeon Chiefs White Pigeon 2014St. Joseph Valley League2017Southwest 10 Conference

[6] [11] [12] [13]

Membership Timeline

BCS League

League championships

Baseball

Red DivisionWhite DivisionBlue Division
SeasonSchoolDivision
Record		SchoolDivision
Record		SchoolDivision
Record
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021BuchananBridgman [14] 17-1
2022Buchanan [15] 7-1

Boys Basketball

Red DivisionWhite DivisionBlue DivisionBCS Division
SeasonSchoolDivision
Record		SchoolDivision
Record		SchoolDivision
Record		SchoolDivision
Record
2015Bridgman7-1Cassopolis7-1
2016Bridgman & Niles Brandywine8-2Marcellus Howardsville Christian9-1Cassopolis9-1
2017Niles Brandywine9-1Marcellus Howardsville Christian7-1Cassopolis8-2
2018Parchment9-1Marcellus Howardsville Christian, New Buffalo & St. Joseph Lake Michigan Catholic10-2
2019Niles Brandywine9-1Marcellus Howardsville Christian13-0
2020Niles Brandywine8-2Three Oaks River Valley14-0
2021Niles Brandywine5-0Marcellus Howardsville Christian8-0
2022Niles Brandywine5-1New Buffalo9-0
2023Eau Claire13-1

Girls Basketball

Red DivisionWhite DivisionBlue Division
SeasonSchoolDivision
Record		SchoolDivision
Record		SchoolDivision
Record
2015Niles Brandywine8-0Bronson7-1
2016Niles Brandywine10-0St. Joseph Michigan Lutheran8-0Mendon9-1
2017Buchanan & Comstock9-1St. Joseph Michigan Lutheran8-0Centreville10-0
2018Comstock10-0St. Joseph Michigan Lutheran12-0
2019Comstock10-0St. Joseph Michigan Lutheran9-1
2020Niles Brandywine10-0St. Joseph Michigan Lutheran13-1
2021Buchanan6-0 [16] St. Joseph Michigan Lutheran & New Buffalo8-1
2022Buchanan & Niles Brandywine5-1Bridgman6-0

Football

Blue DivisionRed DivisionWhite DivisionBCS Division
SeasonSchoolDivision
Record		SchoolDivision
Record		SchoolDivision
Record		SchoolDivision
Record
2014Mendon4-0Bridgman4-0
2015Bridgman4-0Cassopolis4-0Buchanan3-0
2016St. Joseph Lake Michigan Catholic4-0Cassopolis4-0Berrien Springs3-0
2017St. Joseph Lake Michigan Catholic4-0N/AN/ABerrien Springs3-0
2018Niles Brandywine3-0N/AN/ABerrien Springs3-0
2019N/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/ABerrien Springs3-0
2020N/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/ABuchanan4-0 [17]
2021N/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/ABerrien Springs3-0 [18]

Softball

Red DivisionWhite DivisionBlue Division
SeasonSchoolDivision
Record		SchoolDivision
Record		SchoolDivision
Record
2014
2015
2016Bridgman [19] 9-1
2017
2018Three Oaks River Valley
2019BridgmanThree Oaks River Valley
2020
2021Buchanan
2022Buchanan7-1

Volleyball

Red DivisionWhite DivisionBlue Division
SeasonSchoolDivision
Record		SchoolDivision
Record		SchoolDivision
Record
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019Bridgman [20] New Buffalo [20]
2020
2021Buchanan6-0 [21]

State championships

Schools that have participated in MHSAA state championship finals while being members of the BCS League.

Baseball
FinishYearSchoolDivision
Runner-Up [22] 2015Buchanan3
Runner-Up [22] 2015Centreville4
Champion [23] [24] 2022Buchanan3
Boys Track & Field
FinishYearSchoolDivision
Runner-Up [25] [26] 2018Berrien Springs3
Champion [27] 2022Berrien Springs2
Girls Cross County
FinishYearSchoolDivision
Champion [28] [29] 2019Bridgman4
Softball
FinishYearSchoolDivision
Runner-Up [30] 2015Bronson3
Runner-Up [31] [30] 2021Buchanan3
Volleyball
FinishYearSchoolDivision
Champion [32] 2015BronsonC
Champion [32] 2016BronsonC

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References

  1. ↑ "Berrien-Cass-St. Joe Conference Archives". Leader Publications. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  2. ↑ Tribune, Jack Walkden South Bend. "High school sports: A dream conference?". South Bend Tribune. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  3. ↑ "Jason Mitchell: BCS wants to expand. So who's signing up?".
  4. ↑ "New athletic conference gets the go-ahead from school boards". December 17, 2021.
  5. ↑ https://www.mhsaa.com/sites/default/files/Enrollment%20and%20Classification/2324enroll.pdf
  6. 1 2 "Southwest 10 Conference prepares for its debut in Fall 2017". mlive. January 17, 2017. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  7. ↑ Correspondent, DEBRA HAIGHT-HP. "Eau Claire schools joins BCS Athletic Conference". The Herald Palladium. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  8. 1 2 "A Summer of Change | WSJM Sports". June 9, 2014.
  9. 1 2 "BCS expanding to 15 teams for 2015-16". Leader Publications. August 13, 2014. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  10. ↑ Hafer, Val (November 15, 2018). "New 8-Man Football Conference Formed In SW Michigan". 106.1 & 1400 WSJM Sports. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  11. ↑ "Southwest Schools Begin League Shuffle > SecondHalf" . Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  12. ↑ "South Haven, Parchment to join new athletic conferences in 2020". mlive. September 30, 2019. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  13. ↑ "Local athletic conferences could see movement".
  14. ↑ "Bee baseball, softball teams win league titles; Mustangs advance from pre-district".
  15. ↑ "Bucks sweep Bobcats to claim Red Division title". May 18, 2022.
  16. ↑ "Buchanan boys, girls basketball teams sweep rival Niles, Lady Bucks clinch BCS Red title". March 20, 2021.
  17. ↑ "Michigan football roundup: Historic night for BCS-champion Bucks as they beat Vikings for first time since 1966".
  18. ↑ "Hailey runs wild as Berrien Springs bests short-handed Bobcats 26-6". October 16, 2021.
  19. ↑ "Bees BCS Red softball champions".
  20. 1 2 "Bison, Bees claim conference volleyball titles".
  21. ↑ "Buchanan wins outright BCS Red Division championship". October 24, 2021.
  22. 1 2 "Yearly Champions | Baseball | MHSAA Sports". Archived from the original on July 18, 2018. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
  23. ↑ "Buchanan Baseball Closes 2021-22 Sports Year as Champ for 1st Time Since 1985".
  24. ↑ "South Bend Tribune".
  25. ↑ "Division 3 state track finals: All the best stories, photos and videos". June 3, 2018.
  26. ↑ "Team Champions | Boys Track & Field | MHSAA Sports". Archived from the original on January 11, 2018. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
  27. ↑ "2022 MHSAA Division 2 track and field state final highlights, champs, more". June 5, 2022.
  28. ↑ "Bridgman girls win state cross country championship".
  29. ↑ "Team Champions | Girls Cross Country | MHSAA Sports".
  30. 1 2 "Yearly Champions | Softball | MHSAA Sports". Archived from the original on April 13, 2018. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
  31. ↑ "Oh so close: Gritty, unranked Buchanan upended after remarkable run to state title game".
  32. 1 2 "Yearly Champions | Girls Volleyball | MHSAA Sports". Archived from the original on May 16, 2015. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
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