From staff reports

WHITE PIGEON – Being outscored just 14-11 in a two quarter stretch doesn’t seem like much, but it meant the difference between winning and losing in the Class C District Basketball Tournament game between Cassopolis and Centreville.

The Rangers trailed just 11-10 heading into the second quarter against the Bulldogs, but after being outscored by three points in the second and third quarters, Cassopolis wound up on the wrong end of a 37-33 decision at White Pigeon High School.

The loss eliminated the Rangers from the state tournament and gave Cassopolis a final record of 8-13.

A pair of 3-pointers by Damonica Kelly and four points from Reese Ellison accounted for all the Rangers’ offense in the opening eight minutes of the game.

Centreville (8-13) used a more balanced attack to claim the one-point advantage heading to the second quarter.

The two teams continued to play a tie game, but when the Bulldogs outscored the Rangers 10-8 in the period, Cassopolis found itself down 21-18 at halftime.

Neither team was able to put the ball in the basket in the third quarter, but a 4-3 advantage in the scoring column by Centreville increased the Bulldogs’ lead to 25-21.

Both teams finished with 12 points in the fourth quarter, which allowed Centreville to advance to the district title game.

The Bulldogs were defeated by Mendon in the finals.

Ellison finished with 12 points, 12 rebounds and five steals to lead the Rangers, who also got nine points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals from Damonica Kelly.

Sasha Lanier finished with seven points, three rebounds and two assists.

Jacy Hagelgans led all scorers with 15 points for the Bulldogs.

Chelsea Moore added nine.

CASSOPOLIS 33
Damonica Kelly 9; Sasha Lanier 7; Jameka Eleazer 5; Devan Hillyer 0; Savannah Sullivan 0; Lela Broussard 0; Reese Ellison 12. TOTALS: 13 4-6 33
CENTREVILLE 37
Sarah Miller 7; Chelsea Moore 9; Lizzy Brothers 4; Carissa Bontrager 4; Jacy Hagelgans 15; Carrie Miller 0; Aubrey Schwartz 2.TOTALS: 11 13-20 37

Cassopolis 10 18 21 33
Centreville 11 21 25 37
3-point baskets: Cassopolis 3 (Kelly 2, Lanier 1), Centreville 2 (Moore 1, Brothers 1). Total fouls: Cassopolis 18, Centreville 10. Fouled out: None. Varsity records Cassopolis 8-13, Centreville 8-13