By By TOM NYHUIS / Vigilant/Argus
BUCHANAN – It was the high energy of the Bucks in the opening quarter of Tuesday's Lakeland Conference boys' varsity basketball game, which propelled Buchanan to a 72-32 rout over visiting Edwardsburg.
The Bucks hit a sizzling 13-of-17 shots to finish the first quarter with a 31-12 lead. The full court pressure of the Bucks combined with their hot shooting set the tone of the game within the first two minutes of the contest.
Derek Anglero opened his 21-point night with a three and the Bucks never trailed. Clinton Orr took over at 6:15 of the first quarter and scored the Bucks next six points to give Buchanan a 13-2 lead with five minutes to go.
Four of those points came off Edwardsburg turnovers caused by the full court pressure defense. Orr finished the first half with 20 of his game-high 24 points.
"I thought we played pretty well and a key for us was we came out in that press and we were able to create some turnovers we were hoping for instead of giving up easy baskets which we have done at times," Buchanan coach Reid McBeth said of his team's play. "Another key was the first four minutes of the second half just coming out strong. We had a lead and we did that real well so I was pleased with everyone's performance. We shot the ball well so that helps too."
Buchanan didn't let up the pressure and only gave up one field goal in the second quarter as the extended their lead to 49-18 at the half. The Eddies coughed up the ball 22 times in the game with the Bucks scoring 25 points off of those miscues. Buchanan limited their turnovers to just four in the game. The game went to a running clock with 4:30 to play in the third quarter when the Bucks took a 62-22 lead when the mercy rule took over.
"You have to give Buchanan credit for all that. They came out ready to play," Edwardsburg coach Dan Gunn said. "Orr hit the basket really well early and we have kind of running into this like people shoot the ball well against us. We made some turnovers in a row early, they got off to a good start and we didn't handle that well and we missed some shot inside and one thing leads to another. We certainly have to play better."
Brian Sevison led the Eddies with nine points. Jake Harroff added six points.
EDWARDSBURG 32
Daniel Holston 1 0-0 2, Jake Harroff 1 4-4 6, Daniel Witucki 1 0-0 3, Alex Gardner 1 0-0 2, Brian Sevison 4 0-0 9, Zak Eggleston 1 0-0 3, Ron Preston 1 1-3 3, Kyle Dale 1 2-2 4. Totals 11 7-9 32
BUCHANAN 72
Derek Anglero 8 3-3 21, Richie Reed 0 0-2 0, Chris Woofter 1 0-0 3, Spencer Anglero 3 2-2 8, Daniel Blackwell 2 0-2 4, Ryan Catalano 2 0-2 4, Clinton Orr 11 0-0 24, Marquis Tyler 2 0-0 4, Evan Cauffman 1 2-2 4. Totals 30 7-13 72
Edwardsburg 12 18 23 32
Buchanan 31 49 66 72
3-point goals: Buchanan 5 (D Anglero 2, Orr 2, Woofter) Edwardsburg 3 (Witucki, Sevison, Eggleston). Records: Buchanan 7-3, 5-3 Lakeland; Edwardsburg 6-6, 2-5 Lakeland