District tied after Buffalo/ Leon girls’ game

Kelsey Canady puts up a 3-pointer in Friday’s Lady Bison/Lady Cougar battle. Van’Go’photo The Buffalo Lady Bison and Lady Cougars of Leon faced off in the BHS gym on Friday for what everyone knew would be a Battle Royale -- and sure ‘nuf, it was. BHS came into the contest 8-0 in District and LHS was 8-1, having lost only to Buffalo (52-46 in their first meeting). With a share in the district lead on the line, both teams had come to play.

Both teams opened up with 3-pointers. Chelby Stanford anchored the Lady Cougars in the first quarter with 7 points and Kylan Ferguson led BHS with 7 as the girls battled to 15-14 in the first 8 minutes, with BHS in the narrow lead. Coach Jozette Jenkins kept the pace unusually slow and the Lady Bison concentrated on denying the Lady Cougars the outside shot which is their bread-and-butter. The strategy worked to Buffalo’s advantage and they enjoyed a 24-19 lead at halftime.

In the third quarter Leon came out guns ablazin’ and tied things at 26-all, then Allison Carrigan sank another trey to give the Lady Cougars the lead. Buffalo cranked things back up and Lindsey McGill knotted the score at 31-31 with a three-pointer of her own. Leon was back up by four (36-40) going into the final period.

McGill sank her fourth trey early in the fourth and put BHS back on top, 41-40, but Stanford and Thelma Flores sparked Leon to a 9-point run and the Lady Cougars began to pull away.

Both teams had players fouling out in the very intense, physical game. (At one point a referee asked this reporter, “Is this some kind of Rivalry Game or something?”)

Leon led by five late in the game, but Ferguson got a rebound and putback to put the game back within reach for Buffalo. A quick foul put Leon at the line with just seconds left. The shooter missed the free throw that would have pretty much put the game away. Hailey Laningham got the rebound giving BHS one last chance to tie things with a three, but the Lady Bison did not have time to set up a clean shot and Kelsey Canady’s last-second attempt was rushed and missed the mark. Leon won, 52-55.

Stanford led Leon’s offense with 20 points and 7 rebounds. Kori Charlton contributed 14, including 3 from beyond the arc. Carrigan was held to 3 three-pointers out of 11 attempts and finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Flores finished with 5, Shea McCune sank a 3, and Alex Mason added 2 big free throws late in the game.

For the Lady Bison, McGill sank threes in every quarter on her way to an 18-point game. Ferguson followed with 12 points and led her team in steals. Canady scored 8. Samantha Atkinson led her team in rebounds with 8 and scored 7 points. Reagan Read sank 4 free throws and Laningham hit 2 more.

If the district play ends in a tie, the coaches will decide between a coin flip to determine the first and second place teams, or either coach may request a one-game playoff.

The Lady Bison travel to Mildred on Tuesday and host Teague on Friday, when the seniors will be honored in their final home game.