Bucs roll into Tourney Finals
Bucs roll over Mustangs by John Decker
Hendersonville – When Andrew Paige slammed out an alley-oop pass from Caleb Powell to make it 4-0 Beech it appeared that the Bucs might just run away with this game. But Paige picked up his second foul just a minute later and the game changed.
Each team swapped baskets most of the first quarter which ended with Muhlenberg in front 18-15. Beech scored just 4 points over the first 5 minutes of the second quarter and fell behind 26-19. A furious rally helped the Bucs tie the game at 30 at half time. Beech coach Kip Brown said, “it really hurt having to sit Drew Paige all but two minutes of the first half. He got off to a great start. We were down 7 and really started to play our game toward the end of the half.”
Paige sat all but 2 minutes of the first half. Luke Fleming, Powell, Christian Shaw and Jyquale Matthews all did a great job of attacking the basket in the half, offsetting Muhlenberg’s point guard, Trey Lovell who had 20 points. Lovell, just a sophomore, single handedly kept the Mustangs in the game.
The Bucs opened the second half just like they finished it… on fire. Beech outscored the Mustangs 22-12 as Braden Brinkley hit two big three point baskets to end the third quarter
Tempers flared as Muhlenberg coach, Kyle Eades, was tossed after his second technical foul. The game was physical and neither team would back down from the other. It was a very intense and competitive game from start to finish. Powell finished with 21 points, eleven of those were on free throws (11-12).
“We have a poised group, even though we are young nothing seems to get to them. They are resielent, so I am having some fun coaching these guys. Luke was great tonight, he makes so many plays that don’t go on the stat sheet, he scoring more for us. He’s like a silent assassin. Everybody played well, just a great team effort tonight.”
The Bucs will take on 9AAA rival Station Camp in the title game tomorrow evening at 7pm while the Mustangs will play Vestavia Hills at 4pm in the 3rd place game.
Beech girls ran away from Cane Ridge opening a 29-4 halftime lead and coasting to a 58-19 win and a rematch with Brentwood Academy who beat Knox Central 69-25. The Lady Bucs lost 67-60 in Franklin two weeks ago. The girls championship game will be at 5:30pm
