By By TOM NYHUIS / Vigilant/Argus
BUCHANAN - Buchanan jumped out to a 14-7 first quarter lead and held on the rest of the way for a 50-45 Lakeland Conference win on their home floor over Cassopolis.
Jordan Lee, for the second consecutive game since rejoining the team at the beginning of the new year, was the team's high scorer, finishing with 15 points.
Lee also pulled down a team high eight rebounds. Marquis Hall scored 13 in the win for the Bucks. Buchanan improves to 2-2 in the Lakeland and 3-4 overall.
For the Rangers, which fall to 0-3 in Lakeland play and 2-4 overall, had Rodney Lewis score all of his 12 points in the fourth quarter to lead his team.
Poor shooting from the field and the free throw line kept the Rangers just out of reach of the Bucks. Cass finished hitting only 7-of-20 from the charity stripe while the Bucks nailed down 12-15 in the physical game.
Buchanan held a nine point advantage at the break, 23-14. In the third the Rangers tied the score at 25 with 2:44 as the Bucks hit a dry spell on the offensive end.
Terrill Tucker hit Buchanan's only bucket at the 6:33 mark to take a 25-17 lead. The Rangers' opportunity to take control of the game came up empty, hitting only 2-of-6 from the free throw line and turning the ball over after a Buchanan technical with 5:59.
Lee hit a 3-pointer with 2:36 to play in the third for the Bucks and gave his team the 28-25 lead back.
Neither team could get another point the rest of the quarter and Buchanan held a three point lead going into the final eight minutes of play.
Hall opened the game up for the Bucks hitting two big baskets down in the paint for a 32-27 lead early in the quarter.
Lee then took control, scoring 10 points in the final 4:40.
Buchanan will travel to Three Oaks on Tuesday to take on Lakeland foe River Valley.
Junior Varsity
Three players scored 15 points a piece for Buchanan as the junior Bucks got past Cassopolis, 67-54.
Derek Anglero, Deon Thompson, and Matt Sebasty led the Bucks to the win. Drew Warren scored 21 for the Rangers.
Cassopolis defeated the Bucks in the freshmen game 56-14. Stefone Conner led the Rangers with 18.
Perry Wahlstrom scored four for the Bucks.