Bobcats, Rangers advance to Class C district semifinals

Published 11:25 pm Monday, February 26, 2018

By Staff Report

NILES — Class C district girls basketball host Brandywine cruised into the semifinals, while over at Cassopolis, the Rangers battled tooth and nail with a scrappy Bridgman team to earn its spot in Wednesday’s semifinal.

The Bobcats blew out Eau Claire 67-10 in the opening game of the state tournament, while Cassopolis edged Bridgman 60-51.

Brandywine (19-2) will face Watervliet (11-10) in the first semifinal at 6 p.m., while the Rangers (12-9) will face Southwest 10 Conference foe Hartford (17-3) for the third time this season at 8 p.m.

 

Brandywine vs. Eau Claire

The Bobcats overwhelmed the visiting Beavers 26-2 in the opening quarter and never looked back.

Brandywine scored just seven points in the second quarter, but still led 33-6 at halftime.

It did not take long into the third quarter before a running clock was established.

The Bobcats, who played without starters Zakiyyah and Malikiyyah Abdullah, were led offensively by Madison Bailey’s career-high 22 points.

Brandywine also got 17 points from Alexia Martinez and six points each from Kennedy Byrd and Abby Lasagela.

 

Bridgman at Cassopolis

Free throws proved to be the difference in an extremely physical game between the Bees and the Rangers.

Cassopolis was 27-of-42 from the foul line, including 15-of-18 by Santaja Gibson, who led all scorers with 35 points.

Bridgman (3-17) was just 9-of-23 as the Bees were whistled for 29 fouls compared to 17 for the Rangers.

Besides Gibson, Cassopolis got eight points each from Kiersten Hartsell and Telayah Coats.

Lauren Keller scored 21 points for Bridgman.

In its two previous meetings, the Rangers were defeated by the Indians 56-46 in January and 54-47 on Feb. 13.

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