By By SCOTT NOVAK / Niles Daily Star
COLOMA - Unbeaten no more.
Visiting Buchanan knew going in that beating the defending champion Coloma on their own floor was going to be a tall order.
Buchanan, ranked No. 3 in the latest Associated Press poll, had two shots in the final 13 seconds against the Comets in a 69-67 Lakeland Conference loss Tuesday night.
The showdown between two of the conference's best schools was as tension filled and physical as expected.
In the end, Buchanan's Tony Robinson and Gordon Bryant both missed jump shot opportunities which would have sent the game into overtime.
Buchanan coach Reid McBeth said that his squad was just trying to pick up a foul in its final two trips down the floor.
The win was the fourth straight by Coloma over Buchanan and just what Comets coach Josh Hood needed to get his squad back on track after being upset by Bridgman.
Sebastian Lewis canned a pair of free throws with 35 seconds remaining to give the Comets a 68-67 advantage.
Buchanan called a time out with 27 ticks left on the clock to set up a play.
Robinson was able to penetrate the Coloma zone and get off a shot that hit the side of the rim and was rebounded by the Comets' Jake Bovin who was fouled immediately.
Bovin missed the first free throw attempt, but made the second to put the Comets up 69-67.
Buchanan called another time out with 13 seconds remaining to set up its final play.
This time, Bryant ended up with the ball and got off a 15-footer that hit the rim. Bovin again wound up with the ball as the clock expired.
The game was a classic with neither team able to shake the other.
There were 20 lead changes in the contest with Buchanan leading 16-15 after the first quarter and Coloma leading at the intermission 37-31.
The two teams continued to battle back and forth throughout the second half with the Comets taking a 53-50 lead into the final period.
Milo Jeffries was the difference in the final quarter for the Comets.
Jeffries sparked a Coloma comeback in the final three minutes of the contest as he connected on four free throws that shaved the Bucks' 64-59 lead down to 64-63.
Jeffries led Coloma with a 18 points. The Comets also got 14 points from Bovin and 12 points from Lewis.
Buchanan was led by Robinson and Bryant, both of whom scored 21 points. No other Buchanan player reached double figures. Jordan Lee added eight points.
Coloma and Buchanan will square off again on Jan. 28 in Buchanan.
The Bucks travel to Bridgman on Friday night. The Bees are undefeated in the Lakeland Conference.
Tip-off is scheduled for approximately 7:30 p.m.