By By ERIKA PICKLES and TOM NYHUIS / Niles Daily Star
NILES – Derek Anglero's two successful free throws with just six seconds left on the clock iced a Lakeland Conference victory for Buchanan over visiting Brandywine.
The Bucks held off a strong Bobcat comeback in the final period of play Tuesday night to earn the 65-58 win. However, it wasn't the comeback or the free throws that was the highlight of the night. Buchanan guard Avery Brown lit up the gym and gave the Bucks a very large boost as he ended with seven three-pointers and a team high 21 points.
"We had one spurt in the second quarter that killed us. We didn't get back in transition and they lit it up with three's and that was the difference in the game," Brandywine head coach Nathan Knapp said after the game.
Buchanan had a 14-10 lead entering the second quarter when Brown opened the period with his second three of the night. His first came at the 2:36 mark of the first quarter.
Not even two minutes later, Brown was left wide open for another three, which bumped the Bucks' lead to 10. Josh Benjamin scored the first basket of the second period for Brandywine at the 4:44 mark, but a bucket from Buchanan's Brad Burns and another three from Brown only extended Buchanan's lead to 25-12 with 3:58 left in the first half.
McDonald scored another bucket for the Bobcats, but once again Brown drained a three-pointer and Marquis Hall added two points to give the Bucks a 30-14 lead.
Bill Bussey made two free throws, while Matt Beaver nailed a three for the Bobcats as the score showed 30-19 entering the second half.
"When you get a 15 point lead, you have to learn to put the team away. In that first half, Avery shot the ball so well and Brandywine didn't shoot well from the perimeter, but we were setting some real nice screens to get Avery the ball. Not only were we getting the good screen we were looking to penetrate the ball," Buchanan head coach Reid McBeth said.
The Bobcats were able to cut the lead in the third period, trailing by just nine points, 43-34, entering the fourth.
A huge comeback attempt in the final minute of the game saw Brandywine, but the lead to just five, 63-58, with six seconds remaining. The Bocbats had no choice but to foul, sending Anglero to the line to seal the victory.
"The kids played hard and they fought all game long. Every time we did something, Buchanan had an answer for it and ran. It was like an up hill battle," Knapp said.
Along with Brown's 21, Anglero had 14, Clinton Orr added 12 and Hall had seven. Orr and Evan Cauffman each had six rebounds.
"We are going to keep preaching to these guys to play smart basketball because sometimes we don't do that, but young kids will do that," McBeth said.
For the Bobcats, Bussey had a team high 14 points, while Adam Hancock and Caleb Frazier each added 10.
Brandywine (5-8 LAC, 8-11 overall) will head to Berrien Springs on Friday night for another conference game. The Bucks (6-7 in conference, 10-9 overall) will host state-ranked Bridgman on Friday. Both varsity games begin at 7:30 p.m.
Junior varsity
The Buchanan junior varsity basketball team earned a 66-49 victory over Brandywine Tuesday.
T.J. Pike led the Bucks with 18 points, while Greg Beaver had 13 for the Bobcats.
Brandywine … 58
Buchanan … 65
BRANDYWINE (58) – Adam Hancock 5 0-0 10, Danny Williams 0 0-0 0, Noah Udell 1 0-0 2, Zak Bollenbacher 0 1 0-1 3, Matt Duckett 0 0-0 0, Billy McDonald 1 0-0 2, Caleb Frazier 5 0-0 10, Bill Bussey 5 4-6 14, Kyle Low 0 4-4 4, Matt Beaver 0 1 0-0 3, Matt Harvey 2 0-0 4, Josh Benjamin 2 2-4 6. TOTALS: 23 10-15 58.
BUCHANAN (65) – Marquis Hall 2 3-8 7, Clinton Orr 6 0-0 12, Evan Cauffman 2 1-2 5, Avery Brown 0 7 0-0 21, Derek Anglero 2 2 4-4 14, Brad Burns 2 0-0 4, Jon Young 0 0-0 0, Buddy Williams 1 0-5 2. TOTALS: 24 8-19 65.
Brandywine 10 19 34 58
Buchanan 14 30 43 65
3-point shooting: Buchanan 9 (Brown 7, Anglero 2), Brandywine 2 (Bollenbacher 1, Beaver 1); Total fouls: Buchanan 15, Brandywine 18. Fouled out: None; Records: Buchanan 6-7 Lakeland Conference 10-9 overall, Brandywine 5-8 Lakeland Conference, 8-11 overall.