Cassopolis coach Ricky Evans couldn’t figure out why his team looked so lethargic in a 73-62 loss to New Buffalo in the Class C district championship game at Brandywine High School Friday night.

The lackadaisical play by the Rangers doomed them from the outset. Cassopolis turned the ball over 24 times against the Bison, who advance to the regional at Bridgman beginning Monday night.

“It’s for the district championship,” Evans said. “We haven’t won one since like 2008. I don’t know why you wouldn’t be excited about that.

“I think we just did it to ourselves, the fundamentals. You can’t dribble between two people. We looked lethargic. We weren’t ready to play.”

New Buffalo was ready to play.

The Bison (14-7) jumped out to a 15-8 first quarter lead and settled for a 20-13 advantage heading into the second quarter.

New Buffalo continued to extend its lead and took a 37-24 advantage to the locker room at halftime.

Things didn’t get much better for the Rangers in the second half, although they did make a bit of a run at New Buffalo in the third quarter.

But missed shots, especially around the basket, kept Cassopolis from mounting any reach charge.

“I can’t imagine how many layups we missed and you can’t do that with a good team like New Buffalo,” Evans said.

The Bison’s biggest lead of the second half was 19 points (48-29), but a 16-5 run to end the third quarter by the Rangers gave them new life.

Leading just 53-45 heading into the final eight minutes, the Bison erupted for 20 points, including a 16-6 run to open the fourth quarter, and held off Cassopolis for their first district championship since 2009.

Marques Artz led New Buffalo with a game-high 21 points. Travis Maddux added 14, while John Paul Perez and Jarek Hotwagner both finished with 10.

Brandon Glover led the Rangers (11-9) with 18 points. Lynell Ballard chipped in with 16.

 

New Buffalo 73, Cassopolis 62

CASSOPOLIS 62

Brandon Glover 18, Lynell Ballard 16, Noah Woods 6, J.J. Smith 5, Trevon Brown 5, Travis Edwards 4, Malik Ballard 3, Deion Gatson 3, Cornelius Glass 2, Vashaun Morgan 0, John Hampton 0, Shane Los 0. TOTALS: 22 12-17 62

NEW BUFFALO 73

Marques Artz 21, Travis Maddux 14, John Paul Perez 10, Jarek Hotwagner 10, Zach Workman 8, Elisha Dryden 7, Clayton Artz 3, Alex Woerdehoff 0, Taylor Nagy 0, Isaiah Ripley 0. TOTALS: 30 7-14

 

Cassopolis                  13       24       45       62

New Buffalo               20       37       53       73

3-point baskets: Cassopolis 6 (Glover 2, Smith, Brown, M. Ballard, Gatson), New Buffalo 6 (Maddux 4, Dryden, M. Artz). Total fouls (fouled out): Cassopolis 14 (none), New Buffalo 17 (none). Varsity records: Cassopolis 11-9, New Buffalo 14-7