By By SCOTT NOVAK / Dowagiac Daily News
CASSOPOLIS -- A nine-point lead wasn't enough Tuesday night as White Pigeon rallied for a 53-50 victory over the host Cassopolis Rangers in the Class C District Basketball Tournament.
The Rangers reeled off 11 straight points in the third quarter to build a 44-35 lead but were unable to hang on down the stretch as the Chiefs advance to Thursday's semifinals against Constantine.
Ross Yoder put the finishing touches on the White Pigeon victory as he scored three of his 15 points in the final half minute.
Cassopolis did not control the tempo of the basketball game over the final 10 minutes of play and as a result allowed the Chiefs to get away with the victory.
After a nip-and-tuck first half, Cassopolis seemed to seize control of the contest midway through the third quarter.
The Rangers' scrambling defense forced numerous White Pigeon turnovers which led to easy baskets.
But in the fourth quarter that all changed.
The Chiefs were the aggressors on defense and the Rangers hoisted up some ill advised shots which allowed White Pigeon to cut into the lead and eventually pull out the win.
The Chiefs went on a 15-0 run to take the lead thanks in part to five Ranger turnovers.
Both teams shot the ball well from the field with the Chiefs hitting 51 percent of their attempts and Cassopolis 45.
Eric Brown led the Rangers with 15 points, while Simon Ballard finished with 13 and Ashton Danzy 11.
White Pigeon got 15 points from both Yoder and Simon Cholometes.
WHITE PIGEON 53
Troy Niblock 4 2-4 10, Ross Yoder 6 3-4 15, Giles Miller 3 0-0 7, Simon Cholometes 5 3-5 15, Adam Hillman 2 2-2 6, Michael Schmeling 0 0-0 0, Daniel Schutter 0 0-0 0. Totals: 20 10-15 53.
CASSOPOLIS 50
Simon Ballard 4 4-4 13, Ashton Danzy 4 0-0 11, Eric Brown 7 1-2 15, Dan Stanage 1 0-0 2, Will Loux 1 1-2 3, Garrit Hemme 0 0-0 0, Neal Bullocks 1 1-2 3, Derron Thomas 1 0-0 3. Totals: 19 7-10 50.
White Pigeon 16 26 38 53
Cassopolis 12 25 44 50
Three-point baskets: White Pigeon 3 (Cholometes 2, Miller 1), Cassopolis 5 (Danzy 3, Ballard 1, Thomas 1). Total fouls: White Pigeon 10, Cassopolis 14. Fouled out: Stanage (C). Varsity records: White Pigeon 15-6, Cassopolis 8-12.