By By DAN WEISS / Niles Daily Star
BUCHANAN -- Once Ashlee Layher found her range, there wasn't much Lake Michigan Catholic could do to stop her.
Layher scored just two points in the first quarter but went on to pace the Buchanan basketball team with 21 points in a 61-51 season-opening victory over Lake Michigan Catholic.
Layher heated up after the opening period and made three 3-pointers and a number of other difficult shots. She also got help from senior teammate Ali Bender who finished with 16 points and junior Sheena Bradshaw who scored 10.
The Bucks opened up a nine-point lead to start the second quarter and maintained a comfortable advantage throughout the game.
Dee Dee Thompson contributed in a number of ways for Buchanan, finishing with eight points, a team-high eight rebounds, five steals and three blocked shots.
Hannah Fish paced LMC with 13 points.
Buchanan's junior varsity team dropped a 28-25 decision to the Lakers.
The Bucks return to action Thursday night at home against Michigan Lutheran.
Buchanan….61
LMC………….51
Buchanan: Lindsay Colip 0 0-0 0, Dee Dee Thompson 3 2-2 8, Ashlee Layher 8 2-2 21, Sheena Bradshaw 5 0-1 10, Holly Tibbs 3 0-0 6, Ali Bender 3 9-10 16, Michelle Johnson 0 0-0 0. Totals: 22 13-15 61
LMC: Angelica Pangilinan 1 0-0 2, Carolina Rosales 1 0-0 2, Elizabeth Allen 1 0-0 3, Kelly McCann 4 2-4 11, Kathryn Allen 0 0-0 0, Courtney Bartels 1 0-0 2, Hannah Fish 5 0-0 13, Amanda Gelder 3 2-2 8, Bridgett Blough 5 0-0 10. Totals: 21 4-6 51
Buchanan 19 16 12 14--61
LMC 13 11 13 14--51
3-point shooting: Buchanan 4 (Layher 3, Bender), LMC 5 (Fish 3, McCann, Allen). Team fouls (fouled out): Buchanan 9 (none), LMC 19 (none). Team records: Buchanan 1-0, LMC 3-1.