By By JEFF FISHER / Vigilant/Argus
The Buchanan Bucks made a visit to Ross Beatty High School Friday night hoping to avoid a two game losing streak.
The Cassopolis Rangers gave it all they had against the mighty Bucks, but fell short.
The Bucks picked up a 72-55 Lakeland Conference road victory.
Buchanan opened up the first quarter with the games first basket. Cass responded with a bucket of its own. The Bucks jumped out to a 7-2 lead at the halfway mark. Buchanan's Gordon Bryant hit a three-pointer as did Brian Shannon of Buchanan to give the Bucks a 17-7 lead.
Buchanan led at the end of first quarter, 19-7.
Bryant had 10 first quarter points, and Shannon had seven.
The Bucks opened up a 21-7 lead to begin the second quarter.
A Cass turnover increased the Bucks lead to 25-11. Cass' Derron Thomas hit a "three" to narrow the Bucks' lead to 27-14.
The Bucks kept taking it to the Rangers to open up a 32-14 lead at the 2:48 mark. Cass' Thomas hit another "three" late in the quarter, but the Rangers trailed 37-23 at the half.
Thomas had eight second quarter points for the Rangers. Six of which were off of three-pointers.
The Bucks began the third quarter with a 4-0 run to lead 42-23.
The lead for the Bucks continued to swell as it became a 52-38 lead with 1:34 to play in the quarter.
Cass' Ashton Danzy nailed a "three" to make it a 54-42 Buchanan lead.
The Bucks were outscored by Cass 21-17 in the third.
The Bucks owned the fourth quarter as they just protected the ball and the lead to let the clock work its way down.
They outscored the Rangers 18-13 in the fourth quarter.
Bryant led the Bucks with 19 points, Shannon with 16 points, and Tony Robinson with 14.
The Rangers were led by Neal Bullocks with 14 points, Thomas with 11, and Danzy with 10.
BUCHANAN 72
Tony Robinson 6 1-2 14, Gordon Bryant 6 6-7 19, Jimmy Washington 6 1-6 13, Brian Shannon 4 6-6 16, D'Vaughn Frazier 0 4-4 4, Jared Rusher 0 0-0 0, Jeff Kyles 0 0-0 0, P.J. Pollock 0 2-2 2, Marquis Hall 2 0-2 4, Kyle Tracey 0 0-2 0, Nathan Brewer 0 0-0 0. Totals: 24 20-31 72
CASSOPOLIS 55
Neal Bullocks 6 2-2 14, Renard MacNeal 1 0-0 2, Ashton Danzy 4 0-0 9, Cordero Williams 2 3-4 7, Mike Evans 0 2-2 2, Will Loux 2 2-2 6, Dan Stanage 0 4-4 4, Derron Thomas 3 3-4 11, Rodney Lewis 0 0-0 0. Totals: 18 16-18 55
Buchanan 19 37 54 72
Cassopolis 7 23 42 57
Three-point baskets: Buchanan 4 (Shannon 2, Robinson, Bryant), Cassopolis 3 (Thomas 2, Danzy). Total fouls: Buchanan 17, Cassopolis 19. Fouled out: None. Varsity records: Buchanan 18-2 overall (12-2 LAC), Cassopolis 10-9 overall (6-8 LAC). J.V. score: Buchanan 55 (Taylor Johnson 18), Cassopolis 53 (Paul Curtis 17).