By GRAHAM POWELL
Leader sportswriter
McCrory gave the Carlisle girls its best shot Tuesday night at Bison Arena, but a 39-point effort from freshman standout Kylie Warren helped the Lady Bison stay perfect in 2A-6 Conference play, as the Lady Bison beat the Lady Jaguars 63-55.
With Tuesday night’s win, the Lady Bison improved their 2A-6 record to 9-0 and their overall record to 11-5. The win certainly didn’t come easy, but that came as no surprise to Carlisle coach Jonathan Buffalo.
“I expected it to be competitive,” said Buffalo. “I told the girls today in practice that we’re going to get everybody’s best shot. It doesn’t matter how you play, you’re going to get their best shot, and we took their best shot tonight.”
McCrory (7-6, 4-3), who’s 4-3 conference record ranks second in the 2A-6, jumped out to a 6-1 lead to start. Warren, though, answered with a bank 3-pointer and a tough inside bucket to tie the game at 6-6 with 5:22 left in the opening quarter.
Carlisle took its first lead at 14-12 on a transition bucket by Mollis Weems with two minutes left in the first. Warren had the assist on the play. The Lady Bison led 16-15 by the end of the quarter.
That margin was set on a pair of free throws by McCrory’s Ashtyn Rogo with 12.9 seconds remaining.
The Lady Bison extended their lead to 19-15 14 seconds into the second quarter on a corner three by Warren.
McCrory got within two of the Lady Bison lead with three minutes left in the half on an and-1 by Delviny Anthony, which made the score 24-22. However, Carlisle closed the first half with an 8-2 run to lead 32-24 at the break.
Six seconds into the second half, Carlisle pushed its lead to double digits, 34-24, on an inside basket by Warren, but the Lady Jaguars came storming back.
After Warren’s basket, the Lady Jags went on a 19-3 scoring run to lead 43-37 near the end of the third quarter. Carlisle responded, though, with an 8-0 run to regain the lead at 45-43 heading into the fourth quarter.
The third-quarter margin was set on a 3-pointer by Kayla Golleher with nine seconds left in the period. Carlisle led throughout the fourth quarter, but didn’t get much separation on the scoreboard until a 6-0 run led to a 55-47 Lady Bison lead with 3:27 left to play.
That run was capped with two free throws by Peyton Hitchings. After that, McCrory never threatened again, as the Lady Bison furthered their lead to nine, their largest of the fourth quarter, leading 61-52 with 1:29 remaining.
Carlisle finished the game 24 of 56 from the floor for 43 percent. McCrory made 19 of 64 shot attempts for 30 percent. The Lady Jags outrebounded the Lady Bison 37-34, but Carlisle won the turnover category 18-21.
Warren’s 39 points topped the 34 she scored in the team’s 58-48 win at Marvell on Jan. 9, giving her a new season high for points scored. She also had nine rebounds Tuesday.
Golleher also had a solid game for Carlisle, scoring eight points, while adding nine rebounds, four assists and five steals to the stat sheet. Hitchings and Weems added six points apiece for the Lady Bison.
Anthony led McCrory with 19 points.
The Lady Bison resumed conference play last night at home against Palestine-Wheatley after deadlines, and they’ll play another 2A-6 game Tuesday at Brinkley. Tuesday’s game tips off at 6 p.m.
