Rangers Pull Off Huge Upset in Playoff Victory Against Copley

The boys basketball team is clicking right now — and it's using all the help it can get.

A combination of some excellent efforts individually, discipline and maybe a little bit of voodoo have all paid off for the Rangers, as the squad grabbed its fourth win in a row Monday night in a huge upset against Copley.

The ninth-seeded Rangers beat the fifth-seeded Copley, 64-59, to improve to an unlikely 7-14.

For most of the game, the score wasn’t even that close.

At one point in the second half, Lakewood stretched its lead to 14 points — with its excellent perimeter shooting and up-tempo offense. When it works, it really works.

“I’ve got all kinds of people doing voodoo, and trying to figure on what the winning is all about,” said coach Phil Argento. “I think we’ve turned the corner in the total scope of the program.”

The Rangers were led by Conor Mabry and Pete Nelson who scored 13 points each in Monday night’s contest. Chris Bielopetrovich, Jay Andreani and Devin Goddard each chipped in 12 points.

It was the first time all season that five players were in double digits.

While the Rangers had control during most of the contest — there was a moment in the fourth quarter when Copley made it interesting.

“We usually close out games really well,” said Argento.

But, Copley caught up. With only minutes remaining, the score was 47-40. It was the Rangers’ hot shooting that saved the game.

A three-pointer by Bielopetrovich sealed the deal.           

The squad closed out the regular season with victories over Bay Village, and Medina high schools. They will now square-off at 7:30 p.m. Friday in Brecksville for a second-round matchup with the winner of tonight’s contest between seventh-seed Highland and fourth-seed Normandy.

Tickets can be purchased at Lakewood Athletic Department.

At this point, Argento said his players feel as if they could play toe-to-toe with just about anybody.

“The kids started believing in what (they are) doing,” he said. “And then they started believing in themselves.”

On a side note…

Conor Mabry was named to the all-conference team this week, and Dan Mazzeo and Chris Bielopetrovich were given honorable mention.