The Lady Bison basketball team won the 2A Area 3 championship against Jarrell High School Friday night with score of 70-60. Neck-and-neck until the buzzer sounded, the girls fought to maintain the lead and pull out the win.

    The Jarrell Lady Cougars jumped out on top of the Lady Bison 7-0 in the first few minutes of the game. Buffalo calmed down and finally managed to start hitting baskets. At the end of the first quarter, the Lady Bison trailed 13-17. The Lady Bison continued the battle back in the second quarter and were able to take their first lead of the game. The game was back and forth as the girls from both teams played some great ball. Buffalo took a 35-33 lead in at halftime, but found themselves going into the last quarter in a 44-44 tie. They fired it up in the last quarter, coming out on top by ten points.

    “Jarrell was ranked #11 in the state and came in with a season record of 29-3 and a district record of 13-1,” Jenkins added. “On paper, there was no way we were supposed to win that game, but heart and determination triumphed tonight.”

    The Lady Bison felt that their win redeemed their name after last year’s playoff game against Jarrell, which saw Jarrell coming out on top in the Area playoff game.

    “Beating Jarrell felt really good,” senior Jessica Presutti said. “After being defeated last year, I felt like it was a must that we beat them this year. Then making our goal reality gave us all a good feeling.”

    Maci Hoffman lead the team with 18 points. Jordan Jenkins followed with 13, Allison Grissett 12, Marissa Jones 8, Jessica Presutti 7, Taylor Rutledge and Lauren Helmcamp 4 each, Taryn Morman 3, and Taylor Shelton 2. It all added up to a winning score.

    “Our key word going into this game was “redemption”, because Jarrell bumped us out exactly one year ago to the date,” head coach Jozette Jenkins said. “The game opened up ugly with Jarrell jumping out on us early, but once the girls settled down; we chipped away their lead and continued to fight.”

    The win over Jarrell moves the Lady Bison on to compete for the Regional Quarterfinals where they will play Crawford. The game is scheduled to begin at 6:00 tonight at Corsicana High School.

    “The girls have been working hard in practice to prepare for Crawford,” Jenkins said. “The only thing left to do now is apply all of their hard work to the game. I believe in these girls and know that they have the ability to compete with this team.”