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CASSOPOLIS — Bolstered by a quick start and balanced scoring, the Cassopolis boys basketball team cruised to an easy 62-20 Division 3 district quarterfinal win at home Monday over Constantine. 

Cassopolis (13-9) advances to face Bridgman (16-5) in Wednesday’s first semifinal at 5:30 p.m. The other game pits Niles Brandywine (11-10) against White Pigeon (16-6) at 7 p.m. The winners meet in Friday’s championship at 7 p.m.

“Our goal tonight was to handle our business and make sure everyone got a taste of what districts are all about. When you bring up other young guys you want them to do more than just sit on the bench. It was nice to see them all get the opportunity to get in and contribute,” said Cassopolis head coach Charles Superczynski II. 

Sophomore guard and leading scorer Lucas Williams scored 10, including a pair of triples, of his game-high 22 points in the opening quarter.

The Rangers reeled off the game’s first 19 points and carried a 19-2 lead into the second period.

Constantine, coached by Cassopolis’ alumnus Greg Outlaw, finally got its first basket of the game  as time expired in the first quarter on Joshua Bontrager’s mid-range jumper.

Williams would add eight more points in the second quarter and Trevon Peterson-Evans added six as Cassopolis outscored Constantine 24-5 to extend the Rangers’ advantage to 43-7 entering halftime. 

Cassopolis got additional boost from freshman Jamiere Pratt with two triples in the third quarter as the Rangers extended their lead to 57-18 entering the fourth quarter. 

Cassopolis used its full-court defensive pressure to force numerous Constantine turnovers that the Rangers turned into easy layups throughout the entire game.

The Rangers forced the Falcons into 23 turnovers. Cassopolis committed 15 turnovers.

“We had the chance to work on our defense a great deal tonight and our rotations were fantastic,” Superczynski said. “Our young kids have been rearing to go. They’ve been building that momentum back up so hopefully we catch a little fire now.” 

Williams added two rebounds, six steals, three assists and one blocked shot. Peterson-Evans added 13 points, four rebounds, four assists and four steals for the Rangers. Jaylen Pratt finished with 11 points, nine rebounds, five steals, one assist and one block. Ayden Gillam had six points for the winners. 

Cassopolis shot 25-of-57 (44 percent) from the floor, including five triples, and made 7-of-12 (58.3 percent) free-throw attempts. 

Freshman postplayer Tyson West added four rebounds for Cassopolis, while Aarenn Buck-Hooper contributed four boards and had two assists. Jamiere Pratt had three steals. 

Constantine’s leading scorers were Braden Bienz with eight and Riddick Terry with six. 

The Falcons (0-21) connected on 9-of-42 (21.4 percent) field-goal attempts and went 0-for-2 at the foul stripe.