By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
BUCHANAN - Visiting Michigan Lutheran grabbed a 51-42 victory over Buchanan's varsity basketball team Wednesday evening in non-conference action.
After jumping to a 7-2 lead in the first quarter, Buchanan bounced back and took the 18-13 advantage.
Again the Bucks controlled the second quarter, hanging on to a slight lead through most of the period. A buzzer three-pointer from Ashley Pointer gave Buchanan a 29-23 lead entering halftime.
Unfortunately, the Titans came out strong in the third and proved why they are a 12-1 team.
After cutting the lead to 34-32 halfway through the third, Michigan Lutheran tied the game at 34 with a basket.
With 2:37 on the clock, the Titans took the lead for the first time since the first period on a pair of free throws to bring the score to 36-34.
Sophomore Hayley Cashier tied the game back at 36 when she added two points inside the paint, but a three-pointer on Michigan Lutheran's end put the Titans back up 39-36.
Another two points with under one minute to play in the quarter gave Michigan Lutheran the 41-36 lead heading into the final quarter.
In the fourth, the Titans were able to hang on to the lead, ending with the 51-42 win over Buchanan.
Cashier led her team in scoring with 20 points and also pulled down 11 rebounds.
Hillary Faulkner added eight points and Emily Ross had seven points and four steals.
Morgan Bennett and Ellen Scheffler both had 16 points each for Michigan Lutheran.
The Bucks, who are now 6-8 overall, 5-3 in the LAC, will return to the court on Tuesday, Oct. 25 when they host Edwardsburg for a Lakeland Conference match-up. Tip off time is set for 7:30 p.m.
JV game
Buchanan's JV team also fell to Michigan Lutheran Wednesday, 25-20.
Maggie Ernsberger led the Bucks in scoring with six points.