By Staff
CASSOPOLIS - The Cassopolis varsity basketball team won a hard fought game Tuesday evening, 39-32, as the Rangers hosted Coloma for a Lakeland Conference match up.
The game stayed close the entire contest, with a five point advantage, 19-14, being Cass' biggest lead of the night heading into halftime.
Michelle James had eight points at intermission, while DeeDee Hawkins had six and Kelsey Gordon had three.
Coloma scored double digits for the first time in the game during the third quarter, but the 10 points wasn't enough to catch up with Cass' 27-24 lead heading into the final quarter of play.
Gordon's seven points and two points from Hawkins and Taira Williams was enough to keep Cass in the lead and give it the win.
Gordon lead the Rangers with 14 points, three rebounds, three blocks and three steals. Hawkins had 10 points, six rebounds, five steals and two assists and James added 10 points, four rebounds and two steals.
CASSOPOLIS 38
Kelsey Gordon 5 3-4 14,Deedee Hawkins 3 4-6 10, Nikitas Nelson 0 2-2 2, Michelle James 4 2-2 10, Taira Williams 1 0-0 2. Totals: 13 11-14 38
COLOMA 32
Andrea Balsis 5 0-0 13, Melanie Galles 0 3-6 3, Hannah Barret 5 0-0 10, Haley Gire 0 2-4 2, Jamie Walters 2 0-0 4. Totals: 12 5-10 32
Cassopolis 13 19 27 38
Coloma 9 14 24 32
Three-point baskets: Gordon (CA), Balsis (CO) 3. Total fouls: Cassopolis 9, Coloma 11. Fouled out: None. Varsity record: Cassopolis 6-0, 5-0 LAC
Cassopolis vs. Brandywine
CASSOPOLIS - The visiting Brandywine Bobcats made the host Lady Rangers work for their 55-47 Lakeland Conference victory on Thursday, Sept. 15.
After Cassopolis (5-0, 4-0 LAC) opened up a 13-9 first quarter advantage, the Lady Bobcats roared back in the second quart to cut the lead to 24-22 at halftime.
Brandywine (3-3, 2-2 LAC) outscored Cassopolis 13-11 in the second quarter to close the gap.
Brandywine continued to pressure the Lady Rangers, however, Cassopolis outscored the Lady Bobcats 11-9 in the third period to open up a four-point advantage heading into the final eight minutes.
Trailing 35-31 entering the fourth quarter, Brandywine was unable to pull ahead of Cassopolis and was outscored 20-16.
Cassopolis' Kelsey Gordon led all scorers with 22 points. Dee Dee Hawkins added 15 points for the Lady Rangers. Hawkins also had five rebounds, while Michelle James had eight points and five steals.
Katie Smallwood led the Lady Bobcats with 14 points, while Kari Konopka added 11 points.
Brandywine shot a better percentage from the field than Cassopolis, but were outscored 22-13 in field goals.
The Lady Bobcats hit 19-of-28 free throw attempts to just 7-of-17 for the Lady Rangers. Brandywine also outrebounded Cassopolis 35-25.
Brandywine edged Cassopolis in the junior varsity contest 40-38.
Alexa Perry scored 11 points to lead the Lady Bobcats. Kia Luckey led all scorers for Cassopolis with 14 points.
BRANDYWINE 47
Kalie Newman 0 3-4 3, Kelli Konopka 0 2-5 2, Katie Smallwood 5 4-4 14, Kelli Zache 3 2-3 8, Ashley Casey 2 2-3 8, Kari Konopka 3 5-7 11, Mallory Barber 0 0-0 0, Rachel Batman 0 1-2 1. Totals 13 19-28 47
CASSOPOLIS 55
Kelsey Gordon 8 4-6 22, Dee Dee Hawkins 7 1-3 15, Nikitas Nelson 2 1-2 5, Michelle James 3 1-2 8, Taira Williams 1 0-2 3, Monique Harris 0 0-0 0, Tiffany Williams 0 0-2 0, Becky File 1 0-0 2. Totals 22 7-17 55
Brandywine 9 22 31 47
Cassopolis 13 24 35 55
Three-point baskets: Gordon (C) 2, James (C), Williams (C), Casey (B) 2. Total fouls: Cassopolis 21, Brandywine 17. Fouled out: Batman (B). Varsity records: Cassopolis 5-0, 4-0 LAC); Brandywine 3-3, 2-2 (LAC)