By By JEFF FISHER / Vigilant/Argus
CASSOPOLIS - Cass' Dan Stanage and John Young just went about their business Friday night,
Stanage and Young combined for 24 points and 16 rebounds lifting the Rangers over Buchanan 60-38 in the last game of the regular season for both teams as districts begin next week.
Cass jumped out to an early 13-2 lead with pressure defense that forced the Bucks to commit five turnovers and shoot a dismal 2-10 from the field.
Six Rangers scored in the first quarter as Cass led 15-4 at the end of the first quarter.
The Bucks narrowed the Ranger lead to eight points (15-7) on a Jeff Kyles 3-pointer.
Cass' Paul Curtis scored seven second quarter points as Cass took a 29-14 lead into the half.
The Rangers increased their lead to a 43-24 cushion with a minute to go in the third quarter and led 48-26 after three periods. The Rangers outscored the Bucks 19-12 in the quarter.
Cass led 58-36 with two minutes to play in the game and held the ball for the final minute to capture the home victory.
The win for the Rangers gives them the third place finish in the conference.
Buchanan (9-11, 7-7 Lakeland) was led by Jeff Kyles with 12 points Damian Bryant with eight points.
The Bucks were without the services of their leading scorer in Marquis Hall and Avery Brown.
"We have not played good in too many quarters, we were short handed and the kids played as hard as they could. Cass is a pretty basketball team and they are starting to do what coach Hood has been preaching to them all year, they get after you," said Bucks coach Reid McBeth.
“We expected to win tonight and we came up short. Give Cass credit because they played hard and did what they were supposed to do. The new season starts on Monday and we will come out ready to work," added McBeth.
The Bucks now play the winner of the River Valley/Berrien Springs winner Thursday night in the Class C District 65 at Bridgman.
The Rangers (12-7, 8-6 Lakeland) had four scorers in double figures finishing with Paul Curtis with 10 points and five assists and Lonnie Williams chipping in 11 points and grabbing three steals.
"I'm really proud of the seniors and I thought that they did a good job of dictating the game, the start has been key. I am really excited where we have come defensively," said Ranger coach Josh Hood.
The Rangers have won 11 of 13 and five in a row.
"I am really proud of these guys and can't say enough about them," added Hood.