BRIDGMAN — Anything can happen in March Madness. And it doesn’t get much more thrilling than a double overtime win in district tournament basketball action.

That’s exactly how the Cassopolis boys’ team earned a ticket to Friday’s championship game, clinching a 69-65 win over Watervliet Wednesday evening in the semifinals at Bridgman.

Ranger head coach Ricky Evans was all smiles after the overtime win. Especially considering the height different between the two teams, which proved to be an obstacle for Cass.

The tallest Panther player — Junior Daniel Cluster — stands 6-foot-8. Four other players stand 6-foot-3. In fact, the majority of the Watervliet roster is over 6-foot tall.

“We’re like shrimp (compared to them),” Evans joked outside the locker room. “We knew we had to keep pounding the ball inside. We told them not to change their shot. Just go inside like you normally would. If they block it 25 times, they’ll block it. Just keep going in there. So that helped us a lot.”

The Rangers had a 12-10 lead after the first period, but that’s the only lead after a quarter they had until the win. Watervliet went into halftime up 28-27 and ended the third with a 44-39 lead. Both teams were tied at 52 entering the first overtime.

The first overtime was nothing but back and forth lead changes. Cassoplois’ Kiambu Gary scored four of his 18 points in the first overtime to help keep the Rangers head-to-head with the Panthers. At the end of the first four minutes, the two teams were tied at 58.

Free throw shooting was the deciding factor in the victory during the second overtime. In the final 2:30, Cassopolis went 7-for-10 from the line.

Tyrese Hunt-Thompson of the Rangers, and Tobar of the Panthers tied for game-high with 25 points each. Shane Los and Xander Smith each added 11 for Cassopolis.

The Rangers will face Bridgman for the Class C District title on Friday at 7 p.m.

 

CASSOPOLIS 69, WATERVLIET 65

At Bridgman

CASSOPOLIS 69

Shane Los 2 2 1-4 11, Tyrese Hunt-Thompson 5 2 9-11 25, Brylan Glover 1 0-0 2, Xander Smith 4 1 0-2 11 Kiambu Gary 7 4-6 18, Darrion Gatson 0 2-2 2, TOTALS: 19 5 16-25 69. |

WATERVLIET 65

Trent Boone 1 0-0 2, Jakob Aldrick 1 0-3 2, Lamarrius Smith 1 0-0 2, Cameron Rendo 3 2-2 8, Garrett Matthews 0 2-4 2, James Bell 0 2-2 2, Bryant Kieft 5 2-4 12, Shelton Tobar 12 1-3 25, Dan Cluster 4 2-2 10. TOTALS: 27 11-20 65.

 

Watervliet      10       28       44       52       58       65

Cassopolis      12       27       39       52       58       69

3-point baskets: Watervliet 0, Cassopolis 5 (Hunt-Thompson 2, Los 2, Smith 1). Total fouls (fouled out): Watervliet 23 (Aldrick), Cassopolis 19 (Glover). Varsity records: Watervliet 7-15, Cassopolis 17-4.