Buchanan girls romp past Coloma Comets
Published 4:39 pm Wednesday, December 12, 2007
By By TOM NYHUIS / Niles Daily Star
BUCHANAN – It wasn't the best of shooting nights for Buchanan's Lady Bucks Tuesday, but once again their smothering defense suffocated Coloma's offensive attack for a 55-27 Lakeland Conference win at the Comet gym. Buchanan finished the night shooting 20-of-58 from the field, 10-of-33 in the first half.
Hayley Cashier came away with a game high 20 points for Buchanan and Emily Ross chipped in with 10. Cashier and Anna Callahan each pulled down 13 rebounds as the Lady Bucks finished the night with a 40-27 rebounding edge.
Coloma trailed Buchanan by two, 13-11, to start the second quarter, but was limited to just five points in the quarter as they found themselves down 26-16 at the half.
"That team (Coloma) was trying real hard to get a win and they weren't backing down at all," Buchanan coach Bill Weaver stated. "They were handzy inside and we had to really buckled down and get after them. We came out in the second half in a man-to-man and that kind of did the trick a little bit."
In the opening half the Lady Bucks forced 18 Comet turnovers but 10-of-33 first half shooting by Buchanan left the door open for Coloma. The Comets finished the game with 24 miscues. Buchanan had just seven turnover in the game.
A four point third quarter by Coloma and a 17-0 run to end the period widened the Lady Bucks lead to 49-20 heading into the final eight minutes.
"We came out with a little more intensity in the second half," Weaver said.
The win improves Buchanan to 3-0 in the Lakeland Conference and 4-1 overall. Coloma slips to 0-3 and 0-5 on the season.
Shira Bridgeman led the Lady Comets with 11 points and Shatoria Dance with seven.
In junior varsity action Buchanan pulled out a 36-33 win over the Comets. Jordan Helt led the Lady Bucks with 10 points. Mariana Fleury and Kaitlyn Sink each scored nine points for Coloma.
Buchanan will host Brandywine on Friday for another Lakeland Conference showdown between the two league foes with varsity game time scheduled for 7:15 p.m.
BUCHANAN 55
Hillary Faulkner 0 0-0 0, Emily Ross 3 2-2 10, Elizabeth Hein 2 0-0 5, Leah Hunt 0 0-0 0, Amanda Wynn 2 2-2 6, Julia LaBounty 2 1-5 5, Anna Callahan 3 3-6 9, Hayley Cashier 8 4-6 20. Total 20 12-21 55.
COLOMA 27
Shira Bridgeman 3 4-4 11, Rachel Zwar 1 0-0 3, Samantha Ehlers 1 2-2 4, Karleann Stankiewicz 1 0-2 2, Shatoria Dancer 3 0-0 7. Totals 9 6-8 27.
Buchanan 13 26 49 55
Coloma 11 16 20 27
3-point baskets: Ross (B) 2, Hein (B), Bridgeman (C), Zwar (C), Dancer (C).
Team fouls- Buchanan 12, Coloma 18.
Records: Buchanan 4-1, 3-0, Coloma 0-5, 0-3