Bison fall to Hearne in home opener

Senior Aaron Bell puts up a jump shot for the Bison during the home opener against Hearne. Van’Go’photo. The Buffalo Bison hosted the Hearne Eagles in the home opener on Tuesday evening. While the Buffalo boys were definitely more “on their game” than in their first outing of the new season, both the JV and Varsity teams were still unable to secure the victory that they were looking for.

JUNIOR VARSITY The Junior Varisty game was an exciting, although low-scoring, contest. The teams were tied at 7-7 at the end of the first quarter. Buffalo failed to capitalize on their freethrow oportunities in the second, and Hearne took a four-point lead into the locker room at halftime, 14-10. In the third period the Bison clawed back to tie the game at 20. Fouls came into play late in the game, and the Eagles nailed six of six charity shots in the final quarter to pull off the victory, 28-22.

Junior Jordan Nix led the Bison with 9 points and 13 rebounds, followed by Travis Cunningham (7) and Tate Hartley (4). Ty Tollett and Colton Morman contributed a free throw apiece.

VARSITY ACTION

Jordan Canady put the Bison on the board in the opening seconds, putting to rest any notion that Head Coach Warren Ringland’s young men were still in the rut that they found themselves in during their first game at Lorena. The senior playmaker added two more buckets in the first quarter, and Saxton Sims contributed five points on the way to a 15-6 lead after one, much to the delight of the home fans.

The Eagles found their outside shot during the second quarter, but Canady did as well and the Bison still held a nine-point lead at halftime, 39-30.

Hearne came out of the locker room with the hot hand, and went on a run that put them on top in the third quarter. Things went downhill for the Bison in the final period. Trailing late in the game, they had to resort to desperation fouls and and the Eagles cashed in with enough free throws to clinch the win, 59-53.

Canady led his teammates with 25 points and plenty of hustle, followed by Sims (9), Aaron Bell (7), Ryan Read (5), Curtis Yates (3), Damian Rodriguez (3). Freshman Cain Hayes, playing in his first Varsity game, added a free throw.

This week, the Bison men scheduled has been amended to play Kennard at Kennard on Tuesday, 12-1. The Varsity men will participate in the Huntington Tournament Thursday-Saturday (12/3- 12/5). The JV men will be in the Centerville Tournament 12/3-12/5.