By By ERIKA PICKLES / Dowagiac Daily News
BATTLE CREEK - Buchanan was the favorite heading into the Class C quarterfinals Tuesday night at the Battle Creek Kellogg Arena.
And why wouldn't it be?
The Bucks had already beat Albion in last year's quarterfinal game and this year in regular season play.
Though the Wildcats are a much taller team, Buchanan was all about quickness and controlling the ball, but that was not the case as Albion got revenge on the Bucks by snagging a 63-52 win to advance to the semifinals at Michigan State University on Thursday.
Buchanan grabbed a 10-9 after one period of play and led 25-23 heading into halftime.
Buchanan led by as many as eight (35-27) in the third quarter and held a 44-39 advantage heading into the final eight minutes.
Buchanan went cold in the fourth quarter and Albion rallied despite struggling from the free throw line.
The Bucks (23-3) got into foul trouble in the fourth quarter and the Wildcats took advantage of it.
Jordan Lee and Gordon Bryant both had 12 points for the Bucks. Jimmy Washington added 11 points and Brian Shannon had eight.
Vashawn White had 16 points for Albion.
Albion (16-9) will face Olivet (24-0) in Thursday's semifinal. The game tips off at 2:50 p.m. at the Breslin Center.
the Class C finals played on Saturday at noon.
ALBION 63
VaShawn White 5 6-8 16, Clarence Martin 3 1-2 7, Neil Washington 6 2-10 14, Justin Harper 4 1-6 9, Carlos Daniels 1 2-4 4, Jesse Washington 3 0-1 6, Andre Washington 1 0-0 2, Jesse Rice 0 0-0 0, Durant Crum 2 0-2 4, Richard Hemenway 0 0-0 0, Ricky Whitfield 0 0-0 0. Totals: 25 12-33 62
BUCHANAN 52
Tony Robinson 0 4-4 4, Gordon Bryant 3 1 3-4 12, Jordan Lee 5 2-2 12, Brian Shannon 1 2 0-0 8, D'Vaughn Frazier 0 1 2-4 5, Jimmy Washington 4 3-5 11, Jeff Kyles 0 0-0 0, P.J. Pollock 0 0-0 0, Jared Rusher 0 0-0 0. Totals: 17 14-19 52
Albion 9 23 39 63
Buchanan 10 25 44 52
Three-point baskets: Albion (Martin), Buchanan 4 (Shannon 2, Bryant, Frazier). Total fouls: Albion 16, Buchanan 26. Fouled out: Robinson (B).