Sean Ancker of Cal-Mum hits the huge basket late in the Red Raiders' victory over visiting Avon Thursday night. Photo by Michael Johnson

CALEDONIA — Host Caledonia-Mumford put themselves in the driver’s seat for the Livingston Conference D-II title Thursday night with the 49-47 victory over visiting Avon.

But, the celebration started a little early.

Too early in fact.

With Cal-Mum holding a slim lead following Sean Ancker’s basket with 24 seconds left, the Braves would miss their ensuing shot where they were forced to foul Kodiak Suhr with 14 seconds remaining. Suhr made both free-throws to put Cal-Mum up 48-45.

Avon missed a pair of three’s to tie the game as Suhr got the rebound with 1.4 seconds left and was fouled.

But that’s when the celebration occurred.

A Cal-Mum player, thinking the game was over, darted on the court to celebrate with his teammates.

A technical foul would be called on Cal-Mum meaning that after Suhr nailed one of his two free-throws making it 49-45, Avon would get two shots, and the ball, keeping their chances alive.

Avon senior Garrett Kesel calmly sank both free-throws making it 49-47 and giving the Braves the ball at midcourt with a chance to win. But Cal-Mum’s defense would stymie an Avon attempt near the basket as the buzzer sounded as the Red Raiders could now celebrate.

“This victory shows what our team is made of,” said Cal-Mum coach Danny Dickens. “We have practiced our tails off the last two weeks and it shows. I think it shows the competitors that we have on our team. Jordan Shelton played outstanding for us especially in the first half. You have to give Avon and Coach (Rob) Fries a lot of credit as they kept fighting until the end and their defensive pressure was something we hadn’t seen all year.”

Cal-Mum led the entire game as they took a 31-18 halftime lead.

A 13-5 run by Avon would cut the margin to 36-31 with eight minutes left.

Suhr led the Red Raiders with 11 points and three steals while Ancker finished with eight points and 10 rebounds. Jordan Shelton added eight points, 11 rebounds, five assists and three steals while Tommy Stein netted seven points with six boards.

Kesel led the Braves as he scored nine of Avon’s 18 first-half points. He finished with 18 points and four rebounds. Pat Campbell added nine of his 11 points after the intermission. James Stanton and Seamus Donegan each added six points.

“We really concentrated on Campbell, and that frustrated him,” said coach Dickens. “We ran the floor and got good looks.”

The Cal-Mum win gave them the clean sweep over their rivals this season. In both games, the Red Raiders never trailed.

The victory lifted the Red Raiders to 5-1 in the D-II standings (9-5 overall) while Avon slipped to 5-2 (8-7 overall).

Cal-Mum can clinch at least a share of the title if they beat Warsaw Feb. 12. The Red Raiders will clinch the crown solo if they beat Warsaw and Letchworth (Feb. 17).

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