HARRIS — A defensive switch by Stephenson created problems for the Bark River-Harris boys in a 52-32 basketball loss to the Eagles here Monday night.

BR-H committed four turnovers against the Eagles’ man-to-man defense and led 12-8 after the first quarter but finished with 24 miscues in this Skyline Central Conference match-up.

“A lot of that was due to not moving the ball,” said BR-H coach Nicholas Lippens. “We came out hot in the first quarter and moved the ball well against their man. Then, they went to zone, and we had trouble moving the ball for some reason. Our defense has been okay. We’ve been holding teams down near 50 points. Although, we didn’t rotate as well as we should tonight.”

The Broncos took a 15-12 lead on a 21-foot jump shot by senior forward Anthony Miley with five minutes, 35 seconds left in the second stanza.

Stephenson, however, answered with an 8-0 run, taking a 20-15 lead with 1:45 remaining in the second when junior Griffin Brown split a pair of free throws.

A 20-foot jumper by senior guard Logan Getzloff brought the Broncos within 20-18.

The Eagles (4-3) then scored the final four points before halftime, extending their lead to 24-18 on a layup by sophomore and Spanish exchange student Lluis Colomer Alloza.

“They like to play uptempo and were kind on beating us in our man,” said Eagles’ coach Christian Londo. “We went to 1-3-1, and it seemed to slow them down a little. Our quickness helps us on both ends of the court.”

BR-H trimmed its deficit to 24-21 on a 21-foot jumper from the left wing by senior guard Andon Metzer to begin the third frame.

The Eagles then outscored the Broncos 15-2 through the remainder of the third, taking a 39-23 advantage into the fourth.

BR-H came within 44-30 on a 12-foot set shot by sophomore Ethan Ives midway through the fourth but was unable to get any closer.

“We were more patient tonight,” said Lippens. “They also played patient and slowed us and the game down. They’re well coached from the JVs on up. They make you play their game. We need to button a few things up and have three days to prepare for our next game.”

Alloza scored 22 points, and 6-foot-4 freshman forward Zack Schwartz added nine for the Eagles, who had just eight turnovers.

“Offensively, we like to share the ball, and our guards know when to pick up the pace and when to slow it down,” said Londo. “Lluis’s ability to get to the rim is very helpful, and Zack doesn’t get rattled easily. Zack knows what to do with the ball and kind of settles us down.”

Miley paced the Broncos with nine points. Senior guard Trevor Lippens, who did all his scoring in the opening frame, finished with eight.

BR-H, which won the JV game 58-47, hosts Norway Friday. Stephenson visits fourth-ranked Munising tonight.

Stephenson 8 16 15 13 — 52

BR-Harris 12 6 5 9 — 32

Stephenson — Kuehnau 7, Brown 5, Coldren 6, Alloza 22, Schwartz 9, Paidl 1. FT: 5-10; F: 8; Fouled out: None.

Bark River-Harris — Miley 9, Metzer 3, Lippens 8, Getzloff 7, Drossart 3, Ives 2. FT: 1-7; F: 13; Fouled out: Johnsen; 3-point field goals: Miley, Metzer, Getzloff.