By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
BUCHANAN - The Buchanan varsity basketball team picked up another win Tuesday night against visiting Cassopolis in a Lakeland Conference match-up.
The 68-44 victory improves the Bucks' record to 6-1 in conference play, keeping them in a tie for first with Coloma and Bridgman.
The Bucks host Coloma Friday night.
Cassopolis now stands 3-4 in the conference, 5-5 overall.
Jordan Lee was on fire against his former teammates as he scored 12 points in the first quarter for Buchanan.
Buchanan only allowed Cass four buckets, a 3-pointer from Ashton Danzy early in first and two points each from Rodney Lewis, Neal Bullocks and Dan Stanage.
D'Vaughn Frazier was back in action for the Bucks after sitting out the first semester due to transfer status from South Bend (Ind.) Washington.
Frazier gave Buchanan two points for the quarter and 13 for the game. Tony Robinson sunk a 3-pointer and Gordon Bryant added two points in the quarter.
The Bucks had a 19-9 lead going into the second.
Dan Stanage gave Cass its first two of six points for the second quarter. Kevin Luckey scored the next four points for the Rangers.
Buchanan played great defensively which only allowed the Rangers three backets.
Frazier added seven points to Buchanan's score while Brian Shannon, who scored 14 for the night, Robinson and Bryant all added two.
Buchanan had a 34-15 lead going into the second half.
Cass was able to get some much needed offense in the third quarter.
The Rangers doubled their score from the first half alone in the third.
Bullocks, Luckey, Derron Thomas, Lewis and Stanage all contributed two points to the Rangers' score and Luckey added a 3-point buzzer shot.
It was Shannon who came through for the Bucks in the third, scoring 12 points.
Bryant gave Buchanan five points for the quarter and Frazier added four points.
Justin Kyles and Jimmy Washington both put in two for the Bucks.
Though Cass doubled its score, the Rangers were still down 56-34 going into the final quarter.
Both teams took turns scoring in the fourth.
P.J. Pollock scored five points for the Bucks off the bench. Shannon gave the Bucks a 3-pointer and Justin Kyles and Nate Brewer both added two.
Stanage gave Cass three points for the quarter, while Luckey and Cordero Williams both gave the Rangers two.
Buchanan hosts Coloma Friday night which promises to be a very exciting and intense ball game.
The Comets beat the Bucks last Tuesday by two points.
Now Buchanan has another chance to get a win and knock them out of the No. 1 spot.
Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.
Fans are encourged to get there early to find a good seat. The school expects the biggest crowd of the season.
Cassopolis will host Bridgman on Friday at 7:30 p.m.