By By ADAM FISHER / Vigilant/Argus
BUCHANAN - An incredible eight-minute stretch of basketball Tuesday night had Edwardsburg thinking they might end Buchanan's undefeated season.
But after losing a 13-point lead in the second quarter, the Bucks got back on track and coasted to a 79-59 victory at home.
Buchanan (8-0, 4-0 LAC) is accustomed to a fast-paced game that allows the team to get ahead quickly. Tuesday, however, the Eddies (3-6, 1-4) slowed the tempo in the first five minutes. The game was tied 4-4 three minutes into the first quarter.
Buchanan's full-court press got into gear after that, as the Bucks scored six points in 30 seconds, benefiting from two Edwardsburg turnovers in the backcourt.
From there, the Bucks went on a 10-0 run in a minute and a half to grab a 13-point advantage at 19-6.
The Eddies didn't go away, though, ending the first period on a 10-0 run of their own to pull within 19-16 at the end of one.
The Bucks started the second quarter ice cold, hitting just one of their first 11 shots. That opened the door for Edwardsburg's comeback.
Aided by a Buchanan scoring drought, the Eddies outscored the Bucks 16-2 in a seven-minute span that gave them a 22-21 lead.
In that stretch, Buchanan scored just two points. At one point, the Bucks went almost four minutes without a point.
Buchanan responded to the comeback with another 10-0 run in less than a minute and a half to regain control before halftime. The Bucks were up 34-26 at the intermission.
The Bucks' high-scoring offense was back to its normal self in the third quarter. Buchanan outscored Edwardsburg 24-16 in the period to increase its lead to double digits. The Bucks hit 11-of-22 shots in the quarter.
Four Buchanan players scored in double figures, led by senior Gordan Bryant. Bryant scored 22 points, 12 of which came in the third quarter. Brian Shannon, Tony Robinson and P.J. Pollock also scored in double digits.
Pollock scored all 10 of his points in the fourth.
Edwardsburg's Nick Roth almost single-handedly kept the Eddies in the game.
Roth scored 15 points in each half to finish with 30 in the game. He accounted for more than half of his team's points.
Roth completed a double-double by grabbing 10 rebounds.
Edwardsburg (3-6, 0-4) returns to action Saturday night when it travels to Brandywine for another Lakeland Conference contest.
The Eddies return home Jan. 21 against Cassopolis.
EDWARDSBURG 59
Robbie Sevison 0 0-0 0, Steve Gowen 1 0-0 2, David Daniels 0 0-0 0, Patrick Huggett 0 0-0 0, Tony Hayes 4 0-1 8, Branden Muzynski 1 1-1 4, Doug Shuttleworth 2 0-0 4, Nick Roth 11 8-10 30, Matt Horvath 1 2-2 4, Alex Antonio 0 0-0 0, Ted Pietrzak 0 0-0 0, Rick Finley 1 0-0 2, Zac Rooney 2 1-2 5. Totals: 22 12-16 59
BUCHANAN 79
Jeff Kyles 2 0-0 4, Brian Shannon 4 2-2 10, Kyle Tracey 0 0-0 0, Jordan Lee 3 0-3 6, Tony Robinson 7 1-1 15, P.J. Pollack 3 2-2 9, Taylor Johnson 2 0-0 4, Gordon Bryant 9 2-2 22, Jared Rusher 1 1-1 3, Jimmy Washington 3 0-1 6, Jason Kuntz 0 0-0 0. Totals: 34 8-14 79
Edwardsburg 16 26 42 59
Buchanan 19 34 58 79
Three-point baskets: Muzynski (E), Pollack (B), Bryant (B) 2. Total fouls: Edwardsburg 16, Buchanan 18. Fouled out: None. Technical foul: Shannon (B). Varsity records: Edwardsburg 3-6 overall, 0-4 Lakeland Conference; Buchanan 8-0 overall, 4-0 Lakeland Conference.