By By TOM NYHUIS / Niles Daily Star
BUCHANAN – Even a two point second quarter didn't hurt the Lady Bucks varsity basketball team Monday night at Buchanan High School as they handed Eau Claire a 59-23 loss.
Buchanan raced out to an early 21-4 first quarter lead using a stifling full court press that forced three quick Eau Claire turnovers to start the game and a 6-0 lead.
After the first quarter the Lady Bucks pulled off the press and with that there offense seemed to also disappear.
Buchanan shot a woeful 1-for-14 in the quarter while the Fighting Beavers dropped in 10 points to cut the lead to nine at the half.
In the second half the Lady Bucks got back on track scoring 25 points in the third quarter and holding Eau Claire to five putting the game out of reach 48-19. Buchanan defense caused 31 Beaver turnovers with Emily Ross coming up with six steals.
"Emily really stepped it up on defense tonight," Buchanan coach Bill Weaver stated on her play. "She's been playing good defense in all our games. I liked tonights intensity that they came out with to start the game. We relaxed in the second quarter, maybe a little bit to much."
In the fourth the Lady Bucks opened up a 40 point margin, 59-19, to enforce the mercy rule and a running clock the remaining four minutes of the game.
Hayley Cashier led all scorers with 22 points and pulled down nine rebounds while Ross finished with 19 points. Anna Callahan scored 10 and hauled in 10 boards. Rachel Wilson led Eau Claire with 10 points.
The win improves the Lady Bucks to 6-1 and they now prepare to face Cassopolis on Thursday for a big Lakeland Conference showdown on the Lady Bucks' home court .
Buchanan enters Thursday's game with a 4-0 league mark looking to stay at the top of the standing as the Rangers will be bringing in a 3-1 conference mark.
BUCHANAN 59
Hillary Faulkner 1 0-1 3, Emily Ross 9 1-3 19, Elizabeth Hein 1 0-0 2, Leah Hunt 0 0-0 0, Amanda Wynn 0 1-2 1, Julia LaBounty 1 0-0 2, Anna Callahan 4 2-4 10, Hayley Cashier 10 1-2 22. Totals 26 5-12 59
EAU CLAIRE 23
Beth Rathgeb 1 0-0 2, Christie Harris 1 0-1 3, Hailey Schlipp 0 0-6 0, MacKenzie Burks 0 2-2 2, Lolita Armstead 1 0-2 2, Rachel Wilson 5 0-0 10, Ariel Corwin 1 0-0 2, Jatarika Young 1 0-0 2. Totals 10 2-11 23
Eau Claire 4 10 5 5 – 23
Buchanan 21 2 25 9 – 59
3-points baskets: Hillary Faulkner (B), Hayley Cashier (B), Christie Harris (EC). Total Fouls: Buchanan 16, Eau Claire 15. Records: Buchanan 6-1, 4-0 (LAC), Eau Claire 1-5.
Junior Varsity Score: Buchanan 34 Eau Claire 15
Chelsea Adolph (B) 12, Jordan Helt (B) 12, Sydney Harnel (EC) 11