Jan. 31—It may not have been the prettiest game, but a layup by sophomore Rylan Lesnau late in the fourth quarter would be the dagger as the McAlester Lady Buffaloes squeaked by Edison for their second straight victory, 46-41.
Lesnau would lead all scorers with a double-double of 19 points and 16 rebounds while sophomore Kambree Zummer also reached double-figures with 15 points.
McAlester (4-11) got off to one of its better starts to a game this season on both sides of the ball. Zummer picked up right where she left off after a career-high 32-point night against Ada and scored 12 of the Lady Buffaloes’ 17 opening quarter points.
Defensively, Mcalester only allowed six points by the Lady Eagles (2-17) until a made layup at the one and a half minute mark. Even with the late score, the Lady Buffaloes still led 17-8 at the end of the first quarter.
Despite not getting a single point for nearly half of the second quarter, McAlester still held onto a seven-point lead, only allowing one Edison basket. Lesnau would be the one to break the scoring drought at the four and a half minute mark and from there the Lady Buffaloes got back into their offensive rhythm.
Lesnau and senior Avrey Alberson made tough jumpers to end the first half and held off a late deep triple by the Lady Eagles to help McAlester take a 24-17 lead at the break.
Two quick layups from Lesnau and an Edison triple in response set up a battle of a third quarter, but turnovers and costly fouls sending the Lady Eagles to the free throw line kept them within two possessions.
Then Edison got hot from deep. With under a minute and a half left in the third quarter, the Lady Eagles knocked down back-to-back three-point shots as well as a long two, which ultimately tied the game 33-33 with one quarter to go.
An 8-2 scoring run to start the fourth period was just what McAlester needed to get a bit of separation, though their cushion wouldn’t last long. Once again, Edison was able to make mid-range jump shots and capitalize at the charity stripe and all of a sudden the Lady Eagles were only trailing by two points at 41-39.
With just under two minutes left in the game, Edison had a chance to tie the game at the free throw line, but two misses combined with a layup by Lesnau and free throw by Zummer, the Lady Buffaloes were able to narrowly hold on for their lowest amount of points scored in a win this season, 46-41.
McAlester will stay home to face Will Rogers (6-5) Tuesday night at 6 p.m.
