By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
BUCHANAN – Edwardsburg's plan to slow the tempo of the game down and make Buchanan play on its level worked for the entire first half of Friday night's game. However, the Bucks reversed rolls in the second half, came out with a strong full court press and played their fast-paced game, which worked to their advantage as Buchanan claimed a 63-41 Lakeland Conference win on its home court.
With the victory, the Bucks are now 2-4 in the conference, while the Eddies fall to 1-4.
Edwardsburg controlled the first quarter of the contest, bringing a 13-11 advantage into the second. Korey Moore contributed seven points in the first alone for the Eddies, including a three-pointer. The second period was a different story, though, as a combined 13 points was scored between the two teams. The Bucks had eight points from Evan Cauffman, Marquis Hall, Brad Burns and Derek Anglero.
For the Eddies, Brian Sevison and Mike Rangel were the lone scorers. Buchanan carried a 21-18 lead into the second half.
The Bucks came out fired up in the third, and applied full-court pressure to the Eddies' offense, which gave the orange and blue team problems. Five straight turnovers within one minute allowed the Bucks to take the biggest lead of the night, 34-25 with just under three minutes left in the period.
Brent Shuttleworth's free throw and Sevison's basket were the only buckets made during the final two and a half minutes for Edwardsburg, while the Bucks saw baskets from Hall, Clinton Orr and a three from Avery Brown to post a 41-30 lead entering the fourth quarter.
Edwardsburg struggled to get the ball in the net during the final eight minutes of play, as the Eddies were outscored 20-9. The benching of Kevin Stack, who had four fouls, also hurt the Eddies, as did 22 turnovers on the night.
"When Stack went to the bench, they no longer had a big man in the game and it allowed us to get after them. We left the guys that could cause the most pressure in the game in and it turned out to be our benefit. I was proud of our guys," Buchanan coach Reid McBeth said after the game.
Hall led all scorers on the night with 17 points. Orr added 13, while Burns, Brown and Anglero all contributed nine points each for Buchanan.
No Eddies player scored in double digits, with Moore posted a team high seven points, Rangel and Stack each added six.
"My hats of to coach Reid McBeth. He had his kids playing hard. He does a nice job over here and I was impressed with his defensive rotation," Edwardsburg coach Jeff Kozinski said. "It was a tale of two halves. We handled their pressure in the first half, we hit the open man and we moved the ball well. In the second half, their athleticism took over. It was a matter of handling that pressure and we kind of lost our legs."
The Bucks are back in action on Tuesday when they host Eau Claire.
Buchanan 63
Edwardsburg … 41
BUCHANAN (63) – Derek Anglero 3 2-2 9, Avery Brown 3 0-0 9, Clinton Orr 4 5-8 13, Aaron White 0 0-1 0, Brad Burns 4 3-7 11, Marquis Hall 7 3-4 17, Evan Cauffman 1 0-0 2, Buddy Williams 1 0-0 2, Totals 23 13-22 63.
EDWARDSBURG (41) – Brian Sevison 2 0-0 4, Mike Rangel 2 0-0 6, Nate Harness 2 0-0 5, Josh Karamalegos 0 2-2 2, Brent Shuttleworth 1 1-2 3, Nick Fedore 1 0-0 2, John Rosol 2 0-0 4, Matt Boesler 1 0-0 2, Korey Moore 3 0-1 7, Kevin Stack 2 2-4 6, Totals 16 5-9 41.
Buchanan 11 21 41 63
Edwardsburg 13 18 30 41
Team fouls:Edwardsburg 19, Buchanan 13, 3-point goals Edwardsburg 4 (Rangel 2, Harness, Moore), Buchanan 4 (Brown 3, Anglero); Rebounds: Edwardsburg 16, Buchanan 31. Turnovers: Edwardsburg 26, Buchanan 18