Bucks bomb Beavers
Published 12:34 pm Thursday, March 3, 2005
By By ERIKA PICKLES / Dowagiac Daily News
BRIDGMAN - If there was one thing Eau Claire wasn't prepared for in Wednesday night's district semifinal game against Buchanan, it was the Bucks' three-point shooting.
As a result, the Beavers ended up on the wrong end of a 73-38 Class C District Basketball Tournament semfinal setback.
The Beavers played a sagging man-to-man defense throughout the entire night to force the Bucks to shoot outside, which Eau Claire coach Ken Schmaltz said was where Buchanan had most of its problems last time the two teams met.
Eau Claire also tried a spread offense to try and run time off the clock and attempt to make the game as low scoring as possible. But the Beavers needed a better plan against a fast-paced team like Buchanan.
Buchanan outscored Eau Claire 20-10 in the opening quarter.
Buchanan opened up a 31-14 lead entering the half.
The loss ends Eau Claire's season and advances Buchanan to the championship game Saturday at 7:30 p.m. against the winner of the Bridgman-River Valley game tonight.
Gordon Bryant led the Bucks with 16 points. Brian Shannon had 14 and Jordan Lee had 13.
Patterson lead Eau Claire with 18 and Ott had nine.
The Beaver's will be back full-force next year as they are losing no one off the squad. The team is made up of two juniors, seven sophomores and one freshman.