Bucs rally from 11-point deficit for 89-82 victory
MT. MORRIS TWP. -- Mid-Michigan's best chance for a state title in boys basketball this season quite possibly lies in Class C, and on Wednesday night, two of the area's finest teams demonstrated why.
After trailing by as many as 11 points in the first half, Beecher rallied to close within just one at the half, and eventually overtook Buena Vista in the second half for an 89-82 victory. Though the Bucs had no answer for Buena Vista's George Goodman - who poured in a game-high 41 points - they were able to pick apart the Knights' defense with an array of outside, inside and transition baskets.
The first-half deficit obviously concerned the Bucs and their coaching staff, but they never panicked or lost their cool.
"I just told them to be patient," said Beecher head coach Mike Williams. "I told them don't try to win the game with one shot, don't try to win the game with one player. You gotta win it as a team. Tonight we needed to man up, and that's what the kids did. And the followed our instructions, and I'm very proud of them."
"All week at practice, coach had been telling us to be patient," added Bucs forward Jequarius French. "Our third quarters have been our slow-down quarters, and we had to just pull it off. With teamwork, effort...we're a family. We've put in teamwork, been working hard in practice."