BCS League explained

Berrien-Cass-St. Joseph League
Founded:2014
Conference:Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA)
Teams:3 Class C, 6 Class D
Region:Southwest Michigan
Map:BCS League Geographic Footprint Map.png
Map Size:250px

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]

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.

Sponsored Sports

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
Cougars Blue & White 179 C BCS n/a Public Charter 2016 Red Arrow Conference
Bulldogs Navy Blue & Gold 107 D BCS n/a Public 2017[6] Southwestern Athletic Conference
Fighting Beavers Maroon & White 175 C BCS n/a † Public 2020[7] Southwest 10 Conference
Eagles Red & White 62 D BCS n/a Private 2016 Red Arrow Conference
Bisons Royal Blue & Gold 178 C BCS n/a † Public 2014[8] Red Arrow Conference
Lakers Royal Blue, Gold & White 61 D BCS n/a † Private 2014 Red Arrow Conference
Titans Purple & White 114 D BCS n/a † Private 2015[9] Red Arrow Conference
Mustangs Navy & White 155 D BCS n/a Public 2015 Red Arrow Conference
Patriots Royal Blue, Gold & White 19 D BCS n/a Private 2016 Red Arrow Conference
† 8-man football team that is a member of the Southwest Michigan 8-man Football League[10]

Former members

SchoolLocationJoinedPrevious ConferenceDepartedSuccessive Conference
2015 2022 Lakeland Conference
2014 2022 Southwestern Athletic Conference
2014 St. Joseph Valley League 2017 Big 8 Conference
2014 2022 Lakeland Conference
2014 2017 Southwest 10 Conference
2014 St. Joseph Valley League 2017 Southwest 10 Conference
2015 Kalamazoo Valley Association 2021 Southwest 10 Conference
2015 Southwestern Athletic Conference 2022 Southwest 10 Conference
2014 St. Joseph Valley League 2017 Southwest 10 Conference
2020 2021 Wolverine Conference
2014 2022 Lakeland Conference
2015 Kalamazoo Valley Association 2020 Southwestern Athletic Conference
2020 2022 Southwestern Athletic Conference
2014 St. Joseph Valley League 2017 Southwest 10 Conference
[6] [11] [12] [13]

Membership Timeline

DateFormat = yyyyImageSize = width:750 height:auto barincrement:20Period = from:2014 till:2025TimeAxis = orientation:horizontalPlotArea = right:30 left:0 bottom:50 top:5

Colors = id:barcolor value:rgb(0.99,0.7,0.7) id:line value:black id:bg value:white

PlotData= width:15 textcolor:black shift:(5,-5) anchor:from fontsize:s

bar:1 color:red from:2014 till:2022 text:Bridgman (2014-2022) bar:2 color:red from:2014 till:2017 text:Bronson (2014-2017) bar:3 color:red from:2014 till:2022 text:Buchanan (2014-2022) bar:4 color:red from:2014 till:2017 text:Cassopolis (2014-2017) bar:5 color:red from:2014 till:2017 text:Centreville (2014-2017) bar:6 color:red from:2014 till:2017 text:Mendon (2014-2017) bar:7 color:red from:2014 till:end text:New Buffalo (2014-present) bar:8 color:red from:2014 till:2022 text:Niles Brandywine (2014-2022) bar:9 color:red from:2014 till:end text:Our Lady of the Lake Catholic (2014-present) bar:10 color:red from:2014 till:2017 text:White Pigeon (2014-2017) bar:11 color:red from:2015 till:end text:Three Oaks River Valley (2015-present) bar:12 color:red from:2015 till:2022 text:Berrien Springs (2015-2022) bar:13 color:red from:2015 till:2021 text:Comstock (2015-2021) bar:14 color:red from:2015 till:2020 text:Parchment (2015-2020) bar:15 color:red from:2015 till:end text:St. Joseph Michigan Lutheran (2015-present) bar:16 color:red from:2016 till:end text:Benton Harbor Countryside Academy (2016-present) bar:17 color:red from:2016 till:end text:Marcellus Howardsville Christian (2016-present) bar:18 color:red from:2016 till:end text:Watervliet Grace Christian (2016-present) bar:19 color:red from:2017 till:end text:Covert (2017-present) bar:20 color:red from:2018 till:2022 text:Lawrence (2018-2022) bar:21 color:red from:2020 till:end text:Eau Claire (2020-present) bar:22 color:red from:2020 till:2021 text:Niles (2020-2021) bar:23 color:red from:2020 till:2022 text:South Haven (2020-2022)

ScaleMajor = gridcolor:line unit:year increment:1 start:2014

TextData = fontsize:L textcolor:black pos:(175,30) # tabs:(0-center) text:"BCS League Membership History"

League championships

Baseball

Red Division White Division Blue Division
SeasonSchoolDivision
Record		SchoolDivision
Record		SchoolDivision
Record
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021 Buchanan Bridgman[14] 17-1
2022 Buchanan[15] 7-1

Boys Basketball

Red Division White Division Blue Division BCS Division
SeasonSchoolDivision
Record		SchoolDivision
Record		SchoolDivision
Record		SchoolDivision
Record
2015 Bridgman 7-1 Cassopolis 7-1
2016 Bridgman & Niles Brandywine 8-2 Marcellus Howardsville Christian 9-1 Cassopolis 9-1
2017 Niles Brandywine 9-1 Marcellus Howardsville Christian 7-1 Cassopolis 8-2
2018 Parchment 9-1 Marcellus Howardsville Christian, New Buffalo & St. Joseph Lake Michigan Catholic 10-2
2019 Niles Brandywine 9-1 Marcellus Howardsville Christian 13-0
2020 Niles Brandywine 8-2 Three Oaks River Valley 14-0
2021 Niles Brandywine 5-0 Marcellus Howardsville Christian 8-0
2022 Niles Brandywine 5-1 New Buffalo 9-0
2023 Eau Claire 13-1

Girls Basketball

Red Division White Division Blue Division
SeasonSchoolDivision
Record		SchoolDivision
Record		SchoolDivision
Record
2015 Niles Brandywine 8-0 Bronson 7-1
2016 Niles Brandywine 10-0 St. Joseph Michigan Lutheran 8-0 Mendon 9-1
2017 Buchanan & Comstock 9-1 St. Joseph Michigan Lutheran 8-0 Centreville 10-0
2018 Comstock 10-0 St. Joseph Michigan Lutheran 12-0
2019 Comstock 10-0 St. Joseph Michigan Lutheran 9-1
2020 Niles Brandywine 10-0 St. Joseph Michigan Lutheran 13-1
2021 Buchanan 6-0[16] St. Joseph Michigan Lutheran & New Buffalo 8-1
2022 Buchanan & Niles Brandywine 5-1 Bridgman 6-0

Football

Blue Division Red Division White Division BCS Division
SeasonSchoolDivision
Record		SchoolDivision
Record		SchoolDivision
Record		SchoolDivision
Record
2014 Mendon 4-0 Bridgman 4-0
2015 Bridgman 4-0 Cassopolis 4-0 Buchanan 3-0
2016 St. Joseph Lake Michigan Catholic 4-0 Cassopolis 4-0 Berrien Springs 3-0
2017 St. Joseph Lake Michigan Catholic 4-0 N/A N/A Berrien Springs 3-0
2018 Niles Brandywine 3-0 N/A N/A Berrien Springs 3-0
2019 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Berrien Springs 3-0
2020 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Buchanan 4-0[17]
2021 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Berrien Springs 3-0[18]

Softball

Red Division White Division Blue Division
SeasonSchoolDivision
Record		SchoolDivision
Record		SchoolDivision
Record
2014
2015
2016 Bridgman[19] 9-1
2017
2018 Three Oaks River Valley
2019 Bridgman Three Oaks River Valley
2020
2021 Buchanan
2022 Buchanan 7-1

Volleyball

Red Division White Division Blue Division
SeasonSchoolDivision
Record		SchoolDivision
Record		SchoolDivision
Record
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019 Bridgman [20] New Buffalo
2020
2021 Buchanan 6-0[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-Up2015Centreville4
Champion[23] [24] 2022Buchanan3
Boys Track & Field
FinishYearSchoolDivision
Runner-Up[25] [26] 2018Berrien Springs3
Champion[27] 2022Berrien Springs2
Softball
FinishYearSchoolDivision
Runner-Up[30] 2015Bronson3
Runner-Up[31] 2021Buchanan3
Volleyball
FinishYearSchoolDivision
Champion[32] 2015BronsonC
Champion2016BronsonC

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Berrien-Cass-St. Joe Conference Archives. Leader Publications. February 23, 2020.
  2. Web site: High school sports: A dream conference?. Jack Walkden South Bend. Tribune. South Bend Tribune. February 23, 2020.
  3. Web site: Jason Mitchell: BCS wants to expand. So who's signing up?.
  4. Web site: New athletic conference gets the go-ahead from school boards. 17 December 2021.
  5. https://www.mhsaa.com/sites/default/files/Enrollment%20and%20Classification/2324enroll.pdf
  6. Web site: Southwest 10 Conference prepares for its debut in Fall 2017. January 17, 2017. mlive. February 23, 2020.
  7. Web site: Eau Claire schools joins BCS Athletic Conference. DEBRA HAIGHT-HP. Correspondent. The Herald Palladium. February 23, 2020.
  8. Web site: A Summer of Change | WSJM Sports. 9 June 2014.
  9. Web site: BCS expanding to 15 teams for 2015-16. August 13, 2014. Leader Publications. February 23, 2020.
  10. News: Hafer . Val . New 8-Man Football Conference Formed In SW Michigan . 23 February 2020 . 106.1 & 1400 WSJM Sports . 15 November 2018.
  11. Web site: Southwest Schools Begin League Shuffle > SecondHalf. February 23, 2020.
  12. Web site: South Haven, Parchment to join new athletic conferences in 2020. September 30, 2019. mlive. February 23, 2020.
  13. Web site: Local athletic conferences could see movement.
  14. Web site: Bee baseball, softball teams win league titles; Mustangs advance from pre-district .
  15. Web site: Bucks sweep Bobcats to claim Red Division title . 18 May 2022 .
  16. Web site: Buchanan boys, girls basketball teams sweep rival Niles, Lady Bucks clinch BCS Red title. 20 March 2021.
  17. Web site: Michigan football roundup: Historic night for BCS-champion Bucks as they beat Vikings for first time since 1966.
  18. Web site: Hailey runs wild as Berrien Springs bests short-handed Bobcats 26-6. 16 October 2021.
  19. Web site: Bees BCS Red softball champions .
  20. Web site: Bison, Bees claim conference volleyball titles.
  21. Web site: Buchanan wins outright BCS Red Division championship. 24 October 2021.
  22. Web site: Yearly Champions | Baseball | MHSAA Sports. October 10, 2021. July 18, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180718083855/https://www.mhsaa.com/Sports/Baseball/Yearly-Champions. dead.
  23. Web site: Buchanan Baseball Closes 2021-22 Sports Year as Champ for 1st Time Since 1985 .
  24. Web site: South Bend Tribune .
  25. Web site: Division 3 state track finals: All the best stories, photos and videos. 3 June 2018.
  26. Web site: Team Champions | Boys Track & Field | MHSAA Sports. October 10, 2021. January 11, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180111165151/https://www.mhsaa.com/Sports/Boys-Track-Field/Team-Champions. dead.
  27. Web site: 2022 MHSAA Division 2 track and field state final highlights, champs, more . 5 June 2022 .
  28. Web site: Bridgman girls win state cross country championship.
  29. Web site: Team Champions | Girls Cross Country | MHSAA Sports.
  30. Web site: Yearly Champions | Softball | MHSAA Sports. October 10, 2021. April 13, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180413190137/https://www.mhsaa.com/Sports/Softball/Yearly-Champions. dead.
  31. Web site: Oh so close: Gritty, unranked Buchanan upended after remarkable run to state title game.
  32. Web site: Yearly Champions | Girls Volleyball | MHSAA Sports. October 10, 2021. May 16, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150516211548/http://www.mhsaa.com/sports/girlsvolleyball/yearlychampions.aspx. dead.

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