The Buckley Bears (6-6) hung on for dear life in the final moments of a Northwest Conference game against Suttons Bay (5-7) to come out on top 51-49 Tuesday night.
Sub-zero temperatures and gusty snowfall didn’t deter the Suttons Bay and Buckley faithful from making the game.
Buckley’s game plan was apparent get Landon Kulawiak the ball.
Kulawiak had 18 first-half points to go along with 37 points and 10 rebounds to complete the double-double.
The Norse and Bears battled back and forth throughout the first half, and Suttons Bay broke up 25-23.
Suttons Bay had five different scorers in the first half. Norse sophomore Zachariah Raphael had eight points in the first half.
Both teams would come out swinging in the second half as the game remained a 31-31 tie nearing the end of the third quarter. In the final minute of the third and first few minutes of the fourth quarter, Buckley had a lead of as many as six points. With less than four minutes remaining, Suttons Bay would climb back to tie the game and even have a chance to win it before the Bear would close the game out from the free-throw line.
Besides the can’t-miss night from Kulawiak, Buckley forward Coy Breithaupt had 11 points and seven assists.
For Suttons Bay, Raphael ended with 16 points and nine rebounds, followed by senior Grayson Opie with 10 points and six rebounds and Juan Garcia with seven points, three steals, and four rebounds.
Suttons Bay is coming off a close 53-52 road loss to Mesick Thursday.
Opie led with 22 points, 9 rebounds; Raphael 20 points 10 rebounds.
The Norse travel to Frankfort, and the Bears host Glen Lake on Thursday at 7 p.m.
ST. MARY CONTINUES HOT STREAK
Lake Leelanau St. Mary boys’ basketball is on a run of great proportions. Over the past week, the Eagles have won two games over Leland and TC Bulldogs.
The Eagles ground out a gritty 38-31 win over Leland Wednesday and a 45-17 victory over TC Bulldogs Friday.
St. Mary was led by the sharp shooting of sophomore James Bunek, who scored six 3-pointers and 18 points. Eagle senior Luke Bramer had four points, four rebounds, four assists, and junior Oliver Mitchell had five points and six rebounds in the rivalry win.
St. Mary dominated all facets of the game in the win over TC Bulldog.
Bramer 8 points, 6 rebounds, 10 assists, 5 steals; Josh Bunek 7 points, 9 rebounds; Oliver Mitchell 7 points, 6 rebounds, 3 steals; Avery Bunek 6 points, 4 rebounds. UP The Eagles battle Grand Traverse Academy today at 7 p.m.
LAKERS DEFEAT HUSKIES
Glen Lake boys basketball defeated Benzie Central 65-58 last week.
The Lakers took care of business against their rival in a close contest against the Huskies.
Glen Lake was led by Benji Allen and Jacob Plamondon, who combined for 33 points in the win.
Allen had 18 points, seven rebounds, and five assists, while Plamondon had 15 points and 10 rebounds. Glen Lake senior Michael Houtteman had nine points, five assists, three rebounds, followed by Toby Bradford 6 points; Isaac Hlavka 5 points, 8 rebounds; Keaton LaCross 4 points, 2 rebounds.
Glen Lake’s game at Brethren Tuesday was canceled due to the weather.
