'We want to make a run': Buchanan girls basketball looks to capitalize on stellar season
When Buchanan's Gabe Miller coached a team full of promising underclassmen two seasons ago, he knew the Bucks could have a promising future.
But this season, where his team has proved to be one of the top girls basketball squads in Michigan, has so far exceeded even his wildest expectations.
The Bucks (19-1) have reached as high as No. 1 in the Division 3 Michigan Associated Press poll. This week they sit at No. 3, just one point behind the division leaders Dansville (17-1) and Ypsilanti Arbor Prep (15-5), who are tied for first. The Bucks are among the favorites to win a state title this season.
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"I don't know we thought they would be (one of) the best in the state, but we knew they would be very good," Miller told The Tribune this week. "Even going back to their middle school years, you just started to see the pieces come together."
Those pieces turned into an eight-player rotation, centered around one of the most dominant players in Michigan in senior and Miss Basketball candidate Faith Carson. Carson, who missed all last season with injuries, has averaged 19.1 points per game this year. She has scored in double figures in all but one of Buchanan's games.
Paired with do-it-all junior point guard LaBria Austin (10.8 PPG) and roll player Alyssa Carson (8.7), the Bucks have had a plethora of scoring options to go to.
"This," Miller said "is a nice situation for a small school like we are to have the talent we have in the gym competing everyday."
It's translated to winning. A lot of it. But it maybe would not have happened without the Bucks' opening loss to Vicksburg. Miller said it was a lesson his team needed. That they had to bring their best every night to win a game. Since then, they have.
Only two teams , Brandywine and Paw Paw, have even come close to beating the Bucks. The Bobcats took Buchanan to overtime on Dec. 15 but fell 49-45. Paw Paw, two weeks ago, only lost by two.
One of those anticipated matchups could happen again this postseason.
Buchanan received a first-round bye in its district hosted at Coloma. It would play the winner of Cassopolis and Bridgman on March 1, two teams that have combined for 31 wins this season. (Cassopolis with 16 and Bridgman with 15).
The other side of the bracket features host Coloma against Brandywine.
Districts run through March 3, with regionals on March 7 and 9, quarterfinals on March 14 and semifinals and final at the Breslin Center in East Lansing from March 16-18.
Buchanan is the expected favorite, not only for its district but also to potentially cut down the nets in a month. But that doesn't mean the Bucks will be taking their competition lightly. Miller said he has preached the one-and-done tournament aspect and that his team's fate will come down to the little details that have made the Bucks so good.
Because now, there are no more second chances.
"We had some lofty goals for the season like winning the conference," Miller said. "We want to make a run in the tournament. I believe, and the girls do, if we play a very good game, it would take a very good team to beat us."
DISTRICT PAIRINGS
DIVISION 2
At Edwardsburg
Monday, February 27
Berrien Springs (7-13) vs. Benton Harbor (14-8), 7 p.m.
Wednesday, March 1
Niles (0-20) vs. Dowagiac (11-10), 5:30 p.m.
Berrien Springs-Benton Harbor winner vs. Edwardsburg (15-6), 7 p.m.
Friday, March 3
Championship, 7 p.m.
DIVISION 3
At Coloma
Monday, February 27
Cassopolis (16-6) vs. Bridgman (16-4), 7 p.m.
Wednesday, March 1
Coloma (2-7) vs. Brandywine (20-2), 5:30 p.m.
Cassopolis-Bridgman winner vs. Buchanan (19-1), 7 p.m.
Friday, March 3
Championship, 7 p.m.
STANDINGS
WOLVERINE
Vicksburg 21-0 (13-0); Edwardsburg 15-6 (9-4); Paw Paw 12-9 (8-5); Otsego 11-9 (7-5); Plainwell 11-9 (7-6); Three Rivers 10-8 (5-7); Sturgis 3-18 (2-11); Niles 0-20 (0-13)
LAKELAND
Buchanan 19-1 (8-0); Brandywine 20-2 (6-2); Benton Harbor 14-8 (4-4); Dowagiac 11-10 (2-6); Berrien Springs 7-13 (0-8)
SOUTHWEST 10
North Division
Bloomingdale 15-7 (14-1); Lawrence 12-9 (9-6); Hartford 7-14 (6-9); Decatur 5-17 (4-11); Bangor 7-13 (2-12)
South Division
Cassopolis 16-6 (14-0); Mendon 17-4 (10-4); White Pigeon 11-10 (7-7); Centreville 8-12 (7-7); Marcellus 9-11 (6-8)
SCORING LEADERS
Faith Carson, Buchanan 19.3; Ellie Knapp, Brandywine 15.3; Atyanna Alford, Cassopolis 12.0; Adeline Gill, Brandywine 11.9; Alanah Smith, Dowagiac 11.3; Maggie Weller, Dowagiac 11.1; LaBria Austin, Buchanan 10.2
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: After strong season Buchanan girls hoops have state title dreams
