By TOM NYHUIS
Vigilant/Argus

BUCHANAN – A total team effort by the Buchanan varsity boys’ basketball team produced a 62-45 win over visiting Cassopolis Friday night (Dec. 18).

Ten of the 12 players contributed offensively as well as defensively to create havoc for the Rangers.

The opening quarter started with the Bucks taking a 9-2 lead half way through the quarter. The Rangers (2-3, 1-2 Lakeland Conference) turned the ball over five times and their shots fell short of the rim and it looked as though it may be a long night for the visitors.

In the next two minutes the Rangers came to life and tied the game at nine with two minutes remaining in the first quarter. Tommy First gave his team an 11-10 lead after an offensive rebound and bucket at 1:35.

The lead was short lived as Buchanan (3-2, 2-0 Lakeland) rattled off a 7-2 run to finish out the first eight minutes of play.

While the Rangers were finding it difficult to make good passes early on the Bucks came out crisp and nearly error free in the first quarter finishing with just two turnovers for the entire half as they continued to keep the offensive pressure on building their lead to 15 with a minute to play in the opening half and took a 35-22 advantage to the locker room. Cassopolis shot just over 20 percent in the first two quarters.

Richie Reed paced the Bucks in the opening half scoring all of his team-high 10 points using his speed to penetrate the Ranger defense taking the ball into the paint for the lay up.

In the second half the Bucks showed no signs of letting up at the defensive end of the court holding the Rangers to just four points in the first five minutes of the third quarter and grabbing a 48-26 lead with 3:13 to play. A quick spurt by Cass and a 9-0 run cut into the Bucks advantage with a minute to play.

The resilient Bucks scored two more times in the final minute for a 51-35 lead heading into the final eight minutes of the game.

In the final quarter the Rangers made a valiant charge at the Bucks with a 10-6 run to bring the game to within 12 but 5-of-6 from the free throw line in the final 2:46 sealed the win for Buchanan.

Spencer Anglero added to the offense with nine points and finished the night with seven assists. Daniel Blackwell also laid in nine points with Bryan Kuntz and Ryan Catalano each adding eight points.

The Bucks outrebounded their opponent 34-27 with Catalano raking in 10 and Kuntz pulled in eight. Sophomore Jalen Brown finished the night with six blocks.

The Rangers had Steven Eleazer with a game high 14 points and Angelo Burmeister with 10. Stefon Luckey was limited to just eight points hitting just one shot from the field and knocking down 6-of-10 of those from the charity stripe.

“Any time you can hold him to just one basket from the field is a good night,” Buchanan coach Reid McBeth said following the win. “This was a total team effort tonight. Early in the season we have been scoring a lot from outside it was nice to see us take the ball into the paint and score tonight.”

BUCHANAN 62
Spencer Anglero 2 5-6 9, Dylan Arnold 1 0-0 2, Savon Brown 2 1-2 5, Richie Reed 4 2-3 10, Bryan Kuntz 4 0-1 8, Andrew Hearington 2 1-1 5, Dane Cauffman 0 0-0 0, Daniel Blackwell 2 4-6 9, Ryan Catalano 2 3-4 8, Jalen Brown 2 0-0 4, Brandon Jackson 1 0-0 2, Ryan Henckel 0 0-0 0. Totals- 22 16-23 62
CASSOPOLIS 45
Stefon Luckey 1 6-10 8, Nate Hartline 0 1-2 1, Delshawn Wicker 0 0-0 0, Steven Eleazer 4 4-4 14, Angelo Burmeister 4 2-2 10, Oliver Fiala 2 1-4 5, Tommy First 1 1-2 3, Brandin Davis 2 0-1 4. Totals 14 15-23 45

Cassopolis 13 22 35 45
Buchanan 17 35 51 62
3-point baskets: Buchanan 2 (Blackwell 1, Catalano 1) Cassopolis 2 (Eleazer 2). Team fouls: Buchanan 14, Cassopolis 20. Fouled out: None. Varsity records- Buchanan 3-2, 2-0 Lakeland; Cassopolis 2-3, 1-2 Lakeland. JV score: Buchanan 49 (Justin Henderson 11, Cash Krumrie 11), Cassopolis 38 (Tyler Gilliam 18). Freshman score- Cassopolis 56 (Ken Carson 15), Buchanan 49 Carsten McCarty 14)