Panthers wrap up regular season with home victory

Tanner Reha joined an elite club for DeWitt earlier this week in an overtime thriller, scoring his 1000th point and also hitting the game-winning shot.  Thursday night, his teammates returned the favor as the Panthers knocked off future CAAC Blue opponent Grand Ledge 65-55.  Reha only scored 2 points, but dished out some dimes to his DeWitt (15-4; 8-2 CAAC Red) cohorts in a game that was back and forth for most of the contest.  Collin McCrackin & Nate Flannery did most of the damage in the first quarter, as the Panthers rushed out to an early lead.  But the Comets (14-5; 10-4 CAAC Blue) went down to the post with big-man Javel Lewis doing the dirty work.  DeWitt did everything they could to keep the ball out of Lewis' hands, but the Grand Ledge game plan was to obviously feed it down low.  It was 13-12 DeWitt after 8 minutes of play.  The Panthers extended their lead to 3 points at the half with the defenses dominating the second quarter.  Luke Hyde and Isaac Hungerford came alive in the 3rd as Hyde getting some easy buckets near the basket and Hungerford drilling shots from beyond the arc.  Senior Alex McCready, after a quiet 6 points in the first half, starting asserting himself a bit more into the Comets' offense after the break.  But DeWitt's lead ballooned to 12 through 3 quarters, 46-34.  Again, Javel Lewis and Al McCready tried to will Grand Ledge back into it during the fourth.  Lewis had a monster dunk and McCready knocked down a 3.  But that stingy DeWitt defense was holding the rest of the Comets in check.  And when Tanner Reha and Luke Hyde departed from the floor on Senior Night for the last regular season game at DeWitt, the Panthers had sewn up a 65-55 win.  Isaac Hungerford led all scorers with 21 points (including going 7-9 from the field).  Hyde chipped in 15 points and 5 rebounds.  Alex McCready led the way for Grand Ledge with 16 points.  Javel Lewis scored 15, with 8 rebounds and 4 steals.  DeWitt plays East Lansing at home Monday at 7:30 pm in the opening round of District play.  Grand Ledge receives the 1st round bye in the same District and awaits the winner of Lansing Waverly/Owosso.

INDIVIDUAL STATS:

DEWITT:

Isaac Hungerford: 21 pts

Luke Hyde: 15 pts, 5 reb, 2 blk

Collin McCrackin: 10 pts, 5 reb, 6 ast

Nate Flannery: 9 pts, 5 ast, 4 reb, 4 stl

GRAND LEDGE:

Al McCready: 16 pts

Javel Lewis: 13 pts, 8 reb, 4 stl, 3 ast, 2 blk

Jayke Houghton: 9 pts, 5 ast, 5 reb

Luke Smith: 9 pts