By By TOM NYHUIS / Niles Daily Star
BANGOR – It was a double setback for Buchanan High School Friday night as both the boys and the girls varsity basketball teams were dealt losses on the hardwood.
Both teams were playing in the championship game of the Holiday Tournament held at Hartford High School for the girls and Bangor High School for the boys.
At Bangor, it was the host Vikings taking a 58-42 win, while at Hartford it was the Bangor girls keeping its record blemish free in a 52-41 setback for the Lady Bucks.
Hayley Cashier scored 16 points and Emily Ross tallied 13 for Buchanan.
The Buchanan boys came out with what coach Reid McBeth said was a lack of energy to start the game.
"In the first quarter we were getting first shots but not getting any second shots at all. We had a game plan early in the first several possessions to come down and do some things and we didn't execute them very well. You have to give Bangor some credit I thought they played some pretty good defense in that first quarter. It looked like we had just got off the bus from an hour and a half ride. Certainly that's not an excuse, you have to show up with emotion. Our kids needed to show up with as much energy as Bangor did after they won it."
Early in the game the Vikings jumped ahead of the Bucks 10-2 with less than four minutes to play in the opening quarter. Buchanan rallied back and finished the quarter with a 7-2 run to head into the second quarter down three 12-9.
In the second quarter, the Vikings outscored the Bucks 14-4 as Buchanan could only sink one field goal, that coming with 2:42 to play in the first half. Their other two points came from the free throw line. The Bucks went in at the half trailing 26-13.
After an opening bucket by Marquis Hall to start the second half, Bangor went on a 13-0 run to put the game out of reach taking a 39-15 lead with five minutes remaining in the third period.
Leading the way for Buchanan was Avery Brown with 15 as he knocked down three from 3-point land. Hall finished the game with 14. Leading the Vikings was Shiron Williams with 15 and Jacorrian Howell added 14.