BUFFALO GAP – Two weary teams hit the hardwood in Friday’s county rivalry matchup and the Buffalo Gap Bison prevailed in a hard-fought and entertaining scrap.
Both teams had numerous opportunities to grab the victory 40-36, but ultimately, Gap held on via the clutch free throw shooting of junior Leah Calhoun.
“We were able to make a couple of stops and hit a couple of threes,” said Bison head coach Phillip Morgan. “That was the difference.”
Both defenses played sticky, making points come at a premium.
The Bison (9-7, 5-5 Shenandoah) could only muster two points in the second quarter, despite dominating the rebounding.
Still, the visiting Gladiators trailed by a point at the halftime break.
After a tie score (21-21), the Gladiators looked to seize control, scoring on a pair of free throws by senior Blake Bartley and a 3-pointer by senior Macey Snyder.
In the final frame, the pendulum swung back-and-forth.
The Gap’s Hannah Varner drained a 3-pointer to give the Bison a one-point lead, but sophomore Sara Moore put the Red Pride back in the lead 31-30.
Calhoun, who led all scorers with half of Buffalo Gap’s total (20) scored again but Riverheads’ Christa Arehart converted a conventional three-point play to tie again.
But Varner calmly dropped in another trey from distance, giving the Bison the lead for good (36-33).
Snyder dropped in her third triple of the game from way outside, setting up a dramatic finish.
Calhoun finished the scoring with a pair of free throws in the final moments.
Riverheads, playing its third game of the week, dropped to 9-6 overall and 3-5 in the district.
Buffalo Gap was playing its fourth game in five nights, going 3-1 for the week.
Bartley led the Gladiators with 11 points while Varner finished with 13 for the Bison.
RIVERHEADS 6 6 14 10 — 36
BUFFALO GAP 11 2 8 19 — 40
Both teams had numerous opportunities to grab the victory 40-36, but ultimately, Gap held on via the clutch free throw shooting of junior Leah Calhoun.
“We were able to make a couple of stops and hit a couple of threes,” said Bison head coach Phillip Morgan. “That was the difference.”
Both defenses played sticky, making points come at a premium.
The Bison (9-7, 5-5 Shenandoah) could only muster two points in the second quarter, despite dominating the rebounding.
Still, the visiting Gladiators trailed by a point at the halftime break.
After a tie score (21-21), the Gladiators looked to seize control, scoring on a pair of free throws by senior Blake Bartley and a 3-pointer by senior Macey Snyder.
In the final frame, the pendulum swung back-and-forth.
The Gap’s Hannah Varner drained a 3-pointer to give the Bison a one-point lead, but sophomore Sara Moore put the Red Pride back in the lead 31-30.
Calhoun, who led all scorers with half of Buffalo Gap’s total (20) scored again but Riverheads’ Christa Arehart converted a conventional three-point play to tie again.
But Varner calmly dropped in another trey from distance, giving the Bison the lead for good (36-33).
Snyder dropped in her third triple of the game from way outside, setting up a dramatic finish.
Calhoun finished the scoring with a pair of free throws in the final moments.
Riverheads, playing its third game of the week, dropped to 9-6 overall and 3-5 in the district.
Buffalo Gap was playing its fourth game in five nights, going 3-1 for the week.
Bartley led the Gladiators with 11 points while Varner finished with 13 for the Bison.
RIVERHEADS 6 6 14 10 — 36
BUFFALO GAP 11 2 8 19 — 40
