By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
BUCHANAN -As much as it hurts to settle for the No. 2 spot after you've held the No. 1 position the whole season, the Buchanan basketball team has one thing to look forward to - districts.
The Bucks, now 11-2 in conference 17-2 overall, suffered their second loss Tuesday night falling to Bridgman 69-65. They received their first loss at Coloma earlier this season.
The game was a very intense and physical one as both teams were after the reward of sitting on top of the Lakeland Conference.
The game looked pretty promising for the Bucks early in the first quarter. Gordon Bryant's steal and a bucket gave them a quick 2-0 lead, but Bridgman's Matt Haughey answered with two for the Bees. The Bucks watched their only lead quickly slip away as Dan Knude nailed a three-pointer to give the Bees the 5-2, something they didn't let go the rest of the game.
Another steal from Brian Shannon and an assisted pass to Bryant brought the Bucks within one point 7-6, but that was as close as they would get in the quarter.
Both teams took turns making baskets throughout the first, but Bridgman had the 18-13 advantage going into the second.
Jason Delbosque added to for the Bees to start the second, but Bryant added four of his own for Buchanan to bring the score to 17-20. Bridgman's Tyler Weaver hit his first of five three pointers and Knude added two. Jordan Lee answered back with a three of his own and added another two on the Bucks' next play.
A technical foul called on Bridgman for having six players on the court put PJ Pollack on the line. He made 1-of-2 to bring the score to 28-25. Tony Robinson, D'Vaughn Frazier and Bryant scored the next nine points for Buchanan.
Jimmy Washington was fouled on the floor bringing Pollack in to shoot his free throws. Washington cut his hand on the rim after dunking the ball. Pollack made both free throws for Buchanan, but Bridgman entered halftime still ahead 37-34.
Knude opened up the third for the Bees adding two points to their score. Robinson made 2-of-2 free throws and Brian Shannon made his first three of the night to allow Buchanan to tie the game at 39 for the first since the first quarter. The Bees quickly scored four points to put them back up 43-39.
Jordan Lee was ejected from the game after a double technical was called on him. The foul allowed Bridgman's Haughey to make 4-of-4 free throws to put the Bees up 41-47.
Weaver also made 2-of-2 from the line and Robinson and Bryant scored the last four points for the Bucks to take the score to 49-44 going into the final quarter.
Buchanan was able to outscore the Bees 21-18 in the fourth, but it wasn't enough to put them ahead. The Bucks came close a few times, coming within one point of Bridgman, but could never pull of a lead changing shot.
Bryant, Robinson, Shannon, Frazier and Jeff Kyles all scored for Buchanan in the fourth.
Bryant made a shot with two seconds left to play, but it wasn't enough to give them the win. The Bees, now 12-1 in conference, claimed the victory and bragging rights for the No. 1 spot in the LAC with the 69-65 win.
Bryant led the Bucks with 19 points. Robinson had 16 and Shannon added 11 for Buchanan. Weaver had 27 points, 15 of them from three pointers alone and Knude had 20 for Bridgman.
Both teams have one conference game left before districts next Monday night.
Buchanan travels to Cassopolis on Friday night and Bridgman hosts Brandywine. Both games are set to start at 7:30 p.m.
Buchanan's junior varsity and freshmen teams also suffered losses from the Bees.
Terrill Tucker had 18 points and Brad Burns and Eric Cole both had 12 for Buchanan's JV team. Zac Nemitz had 24 points for Bridgman and Seth Coffing had 19 in the Bees' 74-53 victory.
Buchanan………65
Bridgman………69
Buchanan (65) Jeff Kyles 1 0-0 2, D'Vaughn Frazier 1 1 4-0 5, Brian Shannon 2 2 2-1 11, Kyle Tracey 0 0-0 0, Jordan Lee 2 1 0-0 7, Tony Robinson 4 1 7-5 16, Nate Brewer 0 0-0 0, PJ Pollack 0 4-3 3, Taylor Johnson 0 0-0 0, Gordon Bryant 9 3-1 19, Jared Rusher 0 0-0 0, Jimmy Washington 1 0-0 2, Marquis Hall 0 0-0 0, Jason Kuntz 0 0-0 0.
Bridgman (69) Todd Hendricks 1 2-1 3, Matt Haughey 2 5-4 8, Dan Knude 7 2 1-0 20, Shawn Smith 0 0-0 0, Dan Ponegalek 1 2-1 3, Tyler Weaver 2 5 8-8 27, Jeremy Padgett 0 0-0 0, Jason Delbosque 1 0-0 2, Nevin Schaller 0 0-0 0, Nate Lyman 0 0-0 0, Crag McNees 3 0-0 6, Nick Sweet 0 0-0 0.
Buchanan 13 34 44 65
Bridgman 18 37 49 69
Three-point baskets: Buchanan 5 (Frazier 1, Shannon 2, Lee 1, Robinson 1) Bridgman 7 (Knude 2, Weaver 5). Technical Fouls: Buchanan 2 (Lee), Bridgman 1 (Delbosque). Team records: Buchanan 17-2 (11-2 conference), Bridgman 16-3 (12-1 conference).