Bison lose a thriller at home

BY STAN MADDUX

It was a game not decided until the final buzzer.

The New Buffalo High School boys’ basketball team came out on the short end of the stick, though, before a buzzing home crowd.

The Bison, after exchanging leads throughout the game, lost to Marcellus 49-48. A disappointed head coach Nate Tripp said it was a game his young and scrappy players should have won.

Tripp cited mistakes as the cause of his team’s six point fourth quarter lead evaporating.

“The players and myself, we did everything to lose the game. We didn’t do the things to win it,” he said.

The Bison, who were down early by six points, came roaring back and took the lead at the end of the first quarter on a turn-around 10 -foot jump shot by freshman Lucas Forker.

New Buffalo, mostly from the scoring of freshmen James Shaw and Nick Haskins, went into halftime leading 25-19.

Marcellus dominated the third quarter to take a two point advantage going into the final period.

However, the Bison quickly took a three-point lead when junior Andres Becerra nailed a 15-foot jumper from the baseline and then drained a shot from beyond the three-point line.

A three point shot from Junior Elliot Bourne later extended the lead to six points.

Marcellus began inching their way back, though, and tied the game with just over two minutes left on the clock. The Wildcats soon took the lead after stealing the ball and dribbling the distance of the court for a lay-up.

New Buffalo (2-14) had a chance to even the score but missed an open shot close to the rim with 10 seconds remaining in the game. After fouled, Marcellus (4-11) sank both of their shots from the free throw line.

Bourne, while hurrying down the court, drained a threepoint shot to bring the Bison to within one point with two seconds on the clock. There wasn’t enough time for the Bison to get off another shot after rebounding a missed free throw.

Becerra led the Bison with 12 points while Bourne had 11 points.

Tripp said a lack of patience on offense and trying to dribble between defenders instead of passing the ball were among the costly fourth quarter mistakes.

“It’s a game we should have won,” he said.