Cassopolis boys basketball coach Ricky Evans toweled off his face a few times during Wednesday’s Class C district semifinal game against Bridgman.

For the third time this year the Rangers and Bees produced a thriller with Evans once again enjoying the final result. Cassopolis edged Bridgman, 67-64 in overtime, to advance into the district final. The Rangers (16-6) will face New Buffalo (13-7) for the district championship on Friday at 7 p.m. at Cassopolis High School.

Evans and his team couldn’t celebrate on Wednesday until Bridgman’s Nick Knowlton missed a 3-pointer as time expired in overtime. The shot sailed way to the left of the rim
“Two good teams playing,” said Evans, whose team beat Bridgman during the regular season, 78-73 in double overtime, and 72-71.

Cassopolis never trailed in overtime and took the lead for good when Bryce Saxton scored to give the Rangers a 53-51 lead with 2:54 left in overtime.

The game appeared over after Cassopolis took a 65-58 lead with :27 left in overtime after Deion Gatson converted on a three-point play.

But Bridgman had other ideas. Daniel Koziel’s 3-pointer cut the Rangers’ lead to 65-61 with :23 left. After a Cassopolis turnover, Koziel hit another 3-pointer to pull the Bees within 65-64 with :18 remaining.

Cassopolis’ Bryce Saxton was fouled with :15 left and he hit two free throws to give the Rangers a three-point lead.

Knowlton missed a 3-pointer with :11 showing and Saxton grabbed the rebound and was fouled. He missed both free throws setting up Bridgman’s final desperation 3-pointer from Knowlton.

“I’m so proud of these guys,” Evans said. “We had the will and never quit.”

The game was tied at 50 at the end of regulation. The final points of regulation came on a 3-pointer from Koziel with :26 left. That basket came after Saxton missed two free throws with :37 left.

With the game tied at 50, Cassopolis’ Brandon Glover came up short on his shot from the right baseline with :03 left. Knowlton missed a fullcourt length shot as time expired.

The Rangers missed 20 of their 27 shots in the first half and trailed 25-17 at halftime.

“I think we were a little tight,” Evans said. “I told them at half to go out and have fun and just play. We tried to trap more (in the second half).”

Bridgman’s lead grew to 40-28 with 3:26 left in the third quarter. Cassopolis then seized the momentum, going on a 21-5 run to take a 49-45 lead with 3:17 left in the game. Glover hit three 3-pointers during that run, including one as time expired in the third quarter. Glover finished with 16 points.

“He’s our senior leader,” Evans said about Glover. “He came on and hit some big shots.”

Saxton had 20 points and eight rebounds for Cassopolis. Saxton had eight of his points in overtime. Gatson added 18 points and five rebounds.

Shivam Patel scored 19 points and grabbed 21 rebounds for Bridgman, which finishes at 16-6.

On Friday, Cassopolis will be looking for its first district title since 2008. The Rangers didn’t play New Buffalo during the year.

“It means a lot to this community,” Evans said about a district title. “This guy right here, (former NBA player and 1977 Cassopolis graduate) Kevin Loder, came in for the week and he brought a lot of pep to the kids.”

 

CASSOPOLIS 67, BRIDGMAN 64 (OT)

Bridgman 64

Julian Sheriff 1, Luis Geraldi 11, Shivam Patel 19, Daniel Koziel 13, Nick Knowlton 12, Collin Gaishin 2, Devin Hays 6. TOTALS: 25 8-21 64

Cassopolis 67

Deion Gatson 18, Matthew Pittman 5, Noah Woods 6, Brandon Glover 16, Bryce Saxton 20, Isaiah Crider 0, Shane Los 0, Alex Emerson 0, Malik Ballard 2. TOTALS: 23 14-27 67

 

Bridgman                   7          25       45       50        64

Cassopolis                  12        17       44       50       67

3-point baskets: Bridgman 6 (Koziel 3, Hays 2, Patel), Cassopolis 7 (Glover 4, Gatson, Pittman, Saxton). Total fouls (fouled out): Bridgman 22 (Sheriff), Cassopolis 14 (none). Shooting: Bridgman 25-of-61 for 41-percent, Cassopolis 23-of-64 for 36-percent. Rebounding: Bridgman 39 (Patel 21), Cassopolis 36 (Woods 12). Turnovers: Bridgman 14, Cassopolis 13. Varsity records: Bridgman 16-6, Cassopolis 16-6