By By ADAM FISHER / Niles Daily Star
If you blinked in the first quarter of Wednesday's Class B distrtict semifinal at River Valley, you might have missed Bridgman's run to take control of the game.
With the Bees clinging to a slight 6-7 edge over Buchanan, Bridgman exploded for a 13-0 run in the final minute and a half of the opening period. The run demoralized the Bucks and helped the Bees to a 49-35 victory.
Buchanan's postseason run ends with the Bucks 8-14 this season. Bridgman, meanwhile, remains undefeated at 21-0 and moves on to face Eau Claire in the district championship game Friday.
The Bees scored first in the second quarter to complete a 15-0 run in less than two minutes. Bridgman head coach Mike Miller said the spurt came after his team settled down and got over their nerves.
Since Bridgman received a first-round bye in the tournament, this was the first game of the playoffs for the Bees.
The run came on the strength of Bridgman's defense. Buchanan turned the ball over three consecutive times on inbounds passes to end the first quarter. In the second, the Bucks turned the ball over three times in their firs three possessions.
Buchanan went to the locker room down 29-14. Early in the third, the Bees extended their lead to 19 points at 35-16. The Bucks responded by breaking Bridgman's press and getting some easy baskets down low from forwards Hayley Cashier and Danielle Bachleda.
The Bucks went on an 11-1 run of their own. When Ashley Pointer nailed her second 3-pointer of the quarter with a minute left in the third, Buchanan was within single digits at 36-27.
In the final minute of the third period and the opening minutes of the fourth, the Bees strung together seven straight points to put the game back out of reach.
Despite the double-figure loss, Weaver said his team played well defensively. They held Bridgman's fast-paced, high-scoring offense under 50 points. The Bucks also outrebounded the Bees 41-32.
Buchanan's Katie Backus was charged with stopping Bridgman's leading scorer Heather Seyfred. Seyfred still led the Bees in scoring with 16 points, but was limited to eight shots. She got the team going in other ways, though, dishing out eight assists.
Cashier scored 15 to lead Buchanan. In her final game in a Bucks' uniform, senior Dee Dee Thompson finished with five points, 12 rebounds and two blocked shots.
Bridgman……..49
Buchanan…….35
Bridgman (49) - Ashley Miller 1 0-0 3, Leanna Rice 2 2-4 7, Jennifer Malm 1 0-0 2, Chelsea Anderson 0 0-0 0, Heather Seyfred 5 4-5 16, Miranda Strefling 4 0-0 10, Sarah Svobada 1 0-0 3, Beath Sheroan 0 0-0 0, Brooke Mottl 0 0-0 0, Erica Eddy 0 2-2 2, Melani Dernler 3 1-2 7, Meagan Fry 0 0-0 0, Ariel Plotter 0 0-0 0. Totals: 17 9-13 49.
Buchanan (35) - Lindsey Ross 0 0-0 0, Jill Woodrick 0 0-0 0, Holly Dunivan 0 0-0 0, Katie Backus 0 0-2 0, Dee Dee Thompson 2 0-1 5, Leteshia Shannon 0 0-0 0, Sheena Bradshaw 0 0-0 0, Ashley Pointer 3 0-0 9, Danielle Bachleda 1 2-2 4, Hayley Cashier 5 5-8 15. Totals: 12 8-16 35.
BR 20 29 38 49 - 49
BU 6 14 27 35 - 35
3-point shooting - Bridgman 6 (Seyfred 2, Strefling 2, Miller, Rice); Buchanan 3 (Pointer 3). Rebounds - Bridgman 32 (Demler 12); Buchanan 41 (Thompson 12). Fouls (fouled out) - Bridgman 13 (none); Buchanan 14 (Thompson). Records - Bridgman 21-0; Buchanan 8-14.