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www.newbuffalotimes.com
THURSDAY, MARCH 3, 2022
Bison clinch share of conference title
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Members of the High School Band perform during the pre-festival concert
BY STAN MADDUX
he New Buffalo High School boys’ basketball team clinched at least a share of the conference title by defeating Eau Claire 87-72 at home Friday, Feb. 25. The Bison (18-1) took what seemed to be a commanding 23 point lead in the third quarter in a game featuring two of the top Class D teams in the state. However, the quick and speedy Beavers, with help from a series of buckets off steals and other turnovers, came roaring back. Carmelo Taylor converted an offensive rebound into a lay-up to bring Eau Claire to within six points late in the third quarter. New Buffalo, though, settled down. The Bison used their speed and ball handling skills to regain the momentum. Three consecutive driving lay-ups by Jeremiah Mitchell, Anthony Anderson and Kaden Parmley gave the Bison a 12 point lead to start the fourth quarter. The final period opened with the lead quickly growing to 17 points from a bucket down low and free throw by Ryan Vinson and Mitchell hitting a pair of free throws. Anthony Lijewski later nailed a three-point shot from the baseline, giving the Bison a 20-point advantage. Fast break lay-ups from Parmley and Mark Shaw put the Bison up 85-62 with about two minutes left in the game.
Head coach Nate Tripp said his players were panicking and often out of position while the third quarter lead was evaporating. “It was just a matter of spacing and our guys calming down. I really don’t think that the speed was an issue. I think it was us just kind of freaking out and when we settled down, we were obviously fine,” he said. Parmley led the Bison with 23 points. Mitchell scored 22 points, grabbed 16 rebounds and dished out eight assists. After the huge lead slipped away, he felt the turning point of the game was he and his teammates picking up the pace. “They like to run so we got to keep our foot on the pedal and run with them and run even harder,” Mitchell said. The Bison clinched at least a share of the title in their division of the Berrien Cass St. Joseph Conference. New Buffalo is undefeated, while Bridgman and Eau Claire have one loss apiece in the division. The Bison play their last regular season game Thursday, March 3, at home against Bridgman. New Buffalo on Jan. 29 defeated Bridgman on the road 66-56. Mitchell said winning the division outright is one of the goals for a team with their eyes firmly set on bringing home a state title. “We’re on a mission,” he said.
Young New Buffalo musicians gear up for band festival season
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BY FRANCESCA SAGALA
embers of the New Buffalo Blue and Gold Band (which is comprised of seventh and eighth graders) and High School Band geared up for band festival season by performing in front of an audience of family and friends during their Pre-Festival Concert in the New Buffalo Performing Arts Center Wednesday, Feb. 16. Directed by Christina Bauman, bands director, the show featured arrangements such as “Marche Royale,” “Moon Song and Tribal Dances” (which pays homage to the Native American tribes of the Southwestern United States), “March for a Celebration,” and “To Dream in Brushstrokes” (commissioned by Carl Sandburg Middle School Bands in
memory of Ashely and Morgan Whitsett, who died in a house fire in 2007). The young musicians will be trooping to Paw Paw High School Performing Arts Center Tuesday, March 8, as part of the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association (MSBOA)’s concert band festival. Member schools perform a concert of three pieces for adjudication, one of which must be from MSBOA’s music list, with each group being evaluated by three concert performance judges. Bands are evaluated on tone, intonation, rhythm, technique, and interpretation. Ensembles are rated on a scale of I to V, with I being the highest possible rating, and the overall score being computed using the formula that combines each judge’s rating.
Christina Bauman directs the Blue and Gold Band
The Blue and Gold Band stands for applause
