Mar 04, 2025

East Buchanan makes easy work of Lexington 73-56 to advance to Class 3 Quarterfinals

Posted Mar 04, 2025 3:36 AM
Seth Spencer puts back a shot over Lexington's Daymon Slater (23)/ Photo by Matt Pike
Seth Spencer puts back a shot over Lexington's Daymon Slater (23)/ Photo by Matt Pike

By MATT PIKE

St. Joseph Post

For a second consecutive season, and just the third time in school history, the East Buchanan Bulldog boys' basketball team is advancing to the Class 3 State Quarterfinals after beating the Lexington Minutemen 73-56.

After a tough district championship just two days prior, where the Bulldogs didn't take the lead back until the fourth quarter, East Buchanan got off to a quick start against Lexington racing to a 6-0 lead before the Minutemen called a timeout with 5:49 left in the first quarter.

The timeout helped and Lexington made the adjustments they needed too, going on to take the lead at the buzzer with a layup by Damario Moss, who got fouled but missed the and one free throw, giving the Minutemen a 21-20 lead at the end of one.

Isaiah Watkins lays the ball up on a breakaway in the first quarter of East Buchanan's sectional matchup with Lexington/ Photo by Matt Pike
Isaiah Watkins lays the ball up on a breakaway in the first quarter of East Buchanan's sectional matchup with Lexington/ Photo by Matt Pike

East Buchanan and Lexington continued trading blows throughout the second quarter, the Bulldogs only ever leading by as much as five points, but a late three by the Minutemen made the score 38-36 at the halftime break.

Once the second half began though, it was all East Buchanan. The Bulldogs started the second half on an 8-3 run before a timeout was called. With one minute remaining in the quarter, East Buchanan had outscored Lexington 14-3 and ended the third with a 55-44 lead.

East Buchanan continued their dominant second half, outscoring Lexington in the fourth quarter 18-12 on way to the 73-56 victory.

Clark Scott (24) physically goes up against Lexington's Colten Sawyer (2)/ Photo by Matt Pike
Clark Scott (24) physically goes up against Lexington's Colten Sawyer (2)/ Photo by Matt Pike

Senior Seth Spencer led five Bulldogs in double digit scoring with 14 points. Junior Ben Rhoad scored 13, senior Clark Scott put up 12, while seniors Isaiah Watkins and Dylan Davidson added 11 and 10 points respectively

Spencer says as a team, the Bulldogs just focus on moving the ball around and finding the best shot

"Get inside the paint, get it out, just try to get as many shots as we can and try to get inside," Spencer tells reporters following the game. "That's all we kind of do, that's what we praise at practice.

East Buchanan made it to the quarterfinals last year, falling in a heartbreaker to Summit Christian Academy 66-64.

Head Coach Michael Carpenter says, with a group of five seniors who played in that game, his team, and particularly those guys, are very driven to take the next step and get to Columbia.

"They've played really hard, that group they've been together since elementary school, they've come up together and you can really see that when they go out there and make those runs and stuff because they kind of know where everyone is going to be at and they know what they've done they played together for a long time," Carpenter says "And so it means a lot."

East Buchanan will face KIPP KC Legacy in the Class 3 Quarterfinals on Friday. MSHSAA has yet to announce the tip off time or the location.

Kolten Woodside (11) goes for three against Lexington's Chael Lichte (30)/ Photo by Matt Pike
Kolten Woodside (11) goes for three against Lexington's Chael Lichte (30)/ Photo by Matt Pike
Aidan Smith/ Photo by Matt Pike
Aidan Smith/ Photo by Matt Pike

You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.