Ludington’s season comes to an end with 62-61 loss to Big Rapids

In a game that followed the old adage, it literally came “down to the wire,” the Ludington Orioles dropped a heart stopping 62-61 decision to the host Cardinals.

The Orioles fought back from a seven-point deficit early in the fourth quarter to take a 60-57 lead with 2:40 left.

But that proved to be more than enough time for the Cardinals to mount a rally of their own. Mason Dunn nailed a 3-point shot to tie it, 60-60. Owen Gammons scored his only basket of the game with 48 seconds left to give the Cardinals a 62-60 lead.

Matthew Westhouse was fouled for Ludington with 9 seconds on the clock and made one of two free throws to bring Ludington within one.

Ludington fouled Jack Ruggles, who missed the front end of his one-and-one opportunity and the Orioles gained possession on the rebound.

Gage Jones threw up a 3-point shot from the top of the key that left his fingers just as the buzzer sounded, but it rimmed in and out, and Ludington’s season was over.

Big Rapids led, 21-19, at the end of the first quarter and each team scored 20 points in the second which left the Cardinals with a 41-39 lead at the half.

The Cardinals outscored the Orioles, 12-10, in the third period and took a 53-49 lead into the fourth quarter. In the final quarter, the Orioles had a 12-9 edge.

Ludington had three players in double figures, led by David Shillinger with 15 points. Westhouse contributed 14 and Jones added 13.

Dunn finished the night with a game-high 19 points for the Cardinals and Karlito McKinney added 14.

The Orioles closed out the campaign with a 20-3 record.

Big Rapids improved to 20-2 and will take on undefeated Hart at 5:30 p.m Wednesday.