By By TOM NYHUIS / Dowagiac Daily News
BUCHANAN – It took less than four minutes for the Lady Bucks to put away Coloma in girls basketball action Thursday night.
In the opening four minutes Hillary Faulkner knocked down three of her five 3-point baskets to lead Buchanan to a 57-17 Lakeland Conference win.
"Hillary is shooting the ball real well and we were looking for her," Buchanan coach Bill Weaver said. "But team work and team play have just been outstanding on both sides offense and defense. We just have to keep getting better and better every game."
Faulkner dropped in a game high 17 points with Anna Callahan adding 10. Buchanan led at the end of the first quarter 19-1 and 33-5 at the half.
The win keeps the Lady Bucks record spotless as they move to 3-0, 2-0 in conference action. Buchanan plays next Friday when the host Brandywine for the Lady Bucks fourth consecutive home game.
With 1:15 to play in the third quarter Buchanan grabbed a 53-13 advantage to enact the mercy rule to keep the clock moving the final nine minutes of the game.
"It all started with the way they practice everyday. They are going after each other and making each other better. They have just had some great plays out there in the first three games," Weaver said.
The junior varsity team picked up an easy win with a 38-13 win as Shawneika Swanson scored 14 for the Lady Bucks.
BUCHANAN 57
Hillary Faulkner 6 0-0 17, Nicole Rutherford 0 0-0 0, Elizabeth Hein 3 2-2 8, Chelsea Adolph 2 0-0 4, Amanda Wynn 3 0-1 6, Julia LaBounty 3 0-0 6, Courtney Adolph 1 2-2 4, Anna Callahan 5 0-0 10, Rachel Briggs 1 0-0 2. TOTALSs 24 4-5 57
COLOMA 17
Lindsey Cade 0 1-2 1, Olivia Zvonar 1 0-0 2, Kaytlin Veverka 3 0-2 6, Sam Ehlers 2 0-0 4, Julie Timm 2 0-0 4. TOTALS 8 1-4 17
Coloma 1 5 13 17
Buchanan 19 33 55 57
3-point baskets: Buchanan 5, Faulkner (5). Fouls (Fouled out): Buchanan 8, Coloma 7. Records: Buchanan 3-0, 2-0, Coloma 0-3, 0-2
Edwardsburg…32
Berrien Springs…49
BERRIEN SPRINGS – A quick start wasn't enough for the Edwardsburg girls' basketball team to pick up its first victory of the season.
Despite opening up a 13-4 lead after one period of play, the Lady Eddies still wound up on the wrong end of a 49-32 score against host Berrien Springs Thursday night.
The loss dropped Edwardsburg to 0-4 overall and 0-2 in the Lakeland Conference. Berrien Springs is now 3-0 overall and 2-0 in conference play.
The Lady Shamrocks were able to erase that first quarter deficit by outscoring the Lady Eddies 22-8 in the second period.
Leading 26-21 heading into the second half, Berrien Springs increased its lead to 33-24 after three quarters of play.
Both teams struggled offensively in the third period as they combined for 10 points.
The Lady Shamrocks caught fire again in the final eight minutes and poured in 16 points. Edwardsburg managed just eight points in the frame.
Koby Gillispie led all scores with 17 points for the Lady Shamrocks, who also got 14 points from Mandy Bromilow and 10 points from Kelsey Shembarger.
Steffany Streb's 11 points led Edwardsburg. Ashley Streb added nine points and Leslie Boyles five.
EDWARDSBURG 32
Leslie Boyles 5, Syna Lace 0, Steffany Streb 11, Ashley Streb 9, Mariah Murphy 2, Taylor McGrath 2, Nicole Brooks 3. TOTALS: 11 9-16 32
BERRIEN SPRINGS 49
Kelsey Shembarger 10, Tupau Paea 2, Lindsey Foster 4, Raechel Zahrn 0, Mandy Bromilow 14, Lyndsey Shembarger 1, Koby Gillispie 17, Whitney Shackies 1. TOTALS: 29 9-14 49
Edwardsburg 13 21 24 32
Berrien Springs 4 26 33 49
3-point goals: Berrien Springs 2 (K. Shembarger 2), Edwardsburg (S. Streb). Total fouls: Edwardsburg 18, B. Springs 15. J.V. Score: Berrien Springs 34, Edwardsburg 10. Varsity records: Edwardsburg 0-4, 0-2 Lakeland
River Valley…30
Brandywine..42
NILES – Nicole Newman and Carlie Newman combined for 25 points to lead host Brandywine to a 42-30 Lakeland Conference victory over River Valley in girls' basketball Thursday night.
Junior Nicole Newman scored 13 points and freshman Carlie Newman added 12 points as the Lady Bobcats snapped a two-game losing streak.
The win improved Brandywine's record to 3-2 overall and 1-1 in the conference.
The Lady Bobcats trailed 7-2 after eight minutes, but rallied to take a 23-17 lead at the intermission by scoring 21 points in the second quarter.
Brandywine outscored River Valley 14-7 in the third quarter to open up a 37-24 advantage heading into the final frame.
The Lady Bobcats took the air out of the ball in the final eight minutes and scored just five points.
River Valley tallied seven points in the fourth quarter, but could get no closer than 10 points.
RIVER VALLEY 30
Tera Keebel 2 2-8 7; Ashley Kuntz 1 0-0 3; Kourtney Krumrie 4 0-1 9; Chelsea Baker 1 0-0 2; Maddie Ponegalek 2 6-11 8; Gina Schrader 1 0-0 2; Shelby Schlutt 0 0-0 0; Carmen Stoepler 0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 10 7-20 30
BRANDYWINE 42
Emily Low 0 2-4 2; Nicole Newman 5 1-2 13; Jenna Harris 0 0-0 0; Kelsey Prestley 1 0-0 2; Michaela Greer 0 0-0 0; Morgan Smallwood 0 0-0 0; Alexa Perry 1 0-0 3; Teila Smith 3 0-0 6; Carlie Newman 5 2-6 12; Lauren Leonard 1 0-2 2; Madison Pellow 1 0-0 2. TOTALS: 17 5-14 42
River Valley 7 17 24 30
Brandywine 2 23 37 42
3-point goals: River Valley 3 (Keebel, Kuntz, Krumrie), Brandywine 3 (Newman 2, Perry). Total fouls (fouled out): River Valley 14, Brandywine 21. JV score: Brandywine 28, River Valley 17. Varsity records: River Valley 1-1, 1-1 Lakeland; Brandywine 3-2, 1-1 Lakeland