Varsity Bison improve season record to 6-6

Senior A.B. Bell drives to the basket and scores two points early in the game. Van’Go’photo The Buffalo Bison worked in one game in the week before Christmas, hosting Normangee in a nondistrict contest. The team appears to be finding their groove. The Bison improved their season record to 6-6 with a win over the Panthers.

Jordan Canady put the Bison on the scoreboard in the opening seconds, and BHS had posted ten points before Normangee was able to score. The Panthers then reeled off seven unanswered points, showing that they had come to town to play. With Canady and Aaron Bell leading the Bison charge, Buffalo led 18-14 after a quarter.

Coach Warren Ringland's second unit took the floor in the second quarter and still had the Bison in the lead at halftime, 20-18. The starters were back for the third quarter and Canady was hot from the outside, sinking three treys in the period and sparking a 20-point quarter for BHS, while the defense held the Panthers to only 6 points. The Bison rolled on to a 51-35 win.

Bison Senior Damian Rodriguez shoots over Normangee defenders. Van’Go’photo Canady led all scorers with 23 points, 2 steals, 5 rebounds and a block. Bell followed with 14 points and also shined on the boards. Ryan Read contributed 6 points with a trey and three freethrows. Curtis Yates scored 3 points, a steal and 2 boards. Hustler Cain Hayes tormented the Panthers with 3 steals and added a bucket. Micah Burnside-Jones, Casey Helfenbien and Saxton Sims pulled down 5 rebounds each, and Sims tacked on a free-throw. Austin Rayborn donned a varsity jersey and sank a bucket.

The Varsity Bison’s holiday schedule includes the Lovelady Tournament December 29-31.

The Bison are 1-0 in District play, having won the district opener with Onalaska. District play resumes on January 5 when the Bison travel to Centerville to face the Tigers.