By By TOM NYHUIS / Niles Daily Star
EAU CLAIRE - For the second time in as many games, the Buchanan varsity basketball team had to go up against a state ranked team.
Friday night the Bucks traveled to Eau Claire to take on the eighth ranked (Class D) Beavers. Eau Claire held off a resilient Bucks team for a 66-63 non-league win improving its record to 11-1.
The Beavers opened a 13-point lead midway through the third quarter and it looked like they were going to put away the Bucks with an easy win.
With 3:11 to play in the third Marquis Hall's basket and free throw started a 15-2 run by the Bucks, who ended the quarter tied with the Beavers at 50. It was a team effort for the Bucks in the run as Damian Bryant, Terrill Tucker, Eric Cole, and Jeff Kyles all contributed points.
The big blow to the Beavers' lead came in the final 37 seconds of the quarter. Cole connected on a trey from the right side line to pull the Bucks to with in three points, 45-48. On the shot Eau Claire's Chris Moore picked up a foul under the basket after the ball was released, which would have given the Bucks the ball under their own basket.
Moore caught an elbow to the mouth, Moore came to the sideline and was whistled for a technical after spitting on the floor near the Bucks bench. Kyles, who was on the bench with four fouls came in and sank both attemps. With time running down, Buchanan got the ball in the post to Hall, who hit the short shot and was fouled. Hall converted the three point play and the Bucks were up for the first time since the first quarter, 50-48, with 5.4 seconds to play.
Harner hit a runner at the buzzer to tie the game at 50 heading into the final eight minutes of the game.
In the final quarter, after four lead changes, the Beavers took a 59-57 lead with 3:34 to play. With just over a minute to play Kyles brought the Bucks to with in one, 64-63.
In that final minute Buchanan had four chances at taking the lead but the ball would not fall. The Beavers finally came down with the rebound and their final two points were made at the free throw line with 5.5 seconds to play by Chris Moore.
Kyles took the final shot of the game, a three-pointer, that would have sent the game into overtime, as the horn sounded. Kyles' shot bounced off the front of the rim giving the Beavers the 66-63 win.
Hall led the team with 15 points and 10 rebounds for the Bucks with Kyles adding 14 and pulling down seven boards and six assists. Cole score 12 and dished out four assists.
Patterson scored 20 points for the Beavers, Nick von Koening added 12 and Chris Moore scored 11.
In junior varsity action Derek Anglero hit a three-point bucket as the horn sounded to sent the Bucks to a 49-47 victory.
Anglero finished the night with 14 points to lead the Bucks to the win. Preston Huddleston had 22 for the Beavers.
Buchanan 10 29 50 63
Eau Claire 11 35 50 66