By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
NILES - Buchanan and Albion will once again meet Tuesday in the Class C quarterfinals at the Battle Creek Kellogg Arena at 7 p.m.
The Bucks came out on top of the Wildcats last year, 60-47 and beat Albion this year in regualr season play 75-55.
Albion has the height advantage over the Bucks, but Buchanan has the quickness, which has been a key in beating the Wildcats both times.
Albion coach Durant Crum admitted he has a fast team, but not as fast as the Bucks. "Those guys are tremendously quick. Where we come from they consider us to have a little speed, but those guys are definitely quicker than us," Crum said after the Feb. 18 game.
With Buchanan's tallest player, Jimmy Washington standing 6-foot-4 and Albion's two tallest players, VaShawn White and Neil Washington, both standing 6-foot-4 as well, Washington is going to have to step up down low, something he did the last time the teams met.
Washington was a transfer from Albion last year, which should give him a little extra motivation going into tomorrow night's game.
Washington scored 11 points against the Wildcats this year and only one point off the bench in last year's quarterfinal game.
Bryant came out on top in the Feb. 18 game with 23 points and scored 14 last year.
Brian Shannon was the high scorer in last year's match up with 19 points and had 10 against the Wildcats in the regular season. Tony Robinson had 16 in last year's quarterfinal game and Jordan Lee scored 10 points in the regular season.
The Bucks enter quarterfinals with a 23-2 record. The Wildcats stand at 15-9. The winner of Tuesday's game will play the winner of the Olivet (25-0) – Shelby (22-3) game Thursday at 2:50 p.m. at Michigan State University.
Tickets for the semifinal and final games can be purchased online at www.breslincenter.com/main.asp or at the Breslin Center Ticket Office.
You can also call the Ticket office at 517-432-5000.