Sandiettes Blister Lady Bison, 54-30

Grapeland Knocks-off Class 3A #2 Buffalo

By Will Johnson
Messenger Reporter

BUFFALO – Two games into a season doe s not a season make, however, two games can raise a few eyebrows especially when the second contest is a win against the number two ranked team in Class AAA.

According to the Nov. 9 poll published by the Texas Girls Coaches Association, the Buffalo Lady Bison were ranked at the number two spot in Class AAA. On Nov. 11, however, the Grapeland Sandiettes traveled to Buffalo and showed they might deserve a higher ranking (currently #19) in Class AA after they demolished the Lady Bison – on their home court – by a final score of 54-30.

The game tipped off at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 11 and while the unusual time didn’t seem to affect the Sandiettes, the Lady Bison seemed to be affected at the free throw line as they only managed to convert two of 12 from the charity stripe in the opening period.

Kayleigh Rhodes scored three, Mollie Ditmar had two and Yomele Almeida had one as the Lady Bison were held to six points in the quarter.

Meanwhile, the Sandiettes took advantage of the Buffalo shooting woes and jumped out to a 10-6 lead after the first eight minutes of play. Teira Jones had six for Grapeland while Hannah Chipman and Kenya Woods both scored two.

The Lady Bison continued to misfire in the second quarter as the Sandiettes opened the period with a 14-2 run. Rhodes had four for Buffalo and was joined by Ditmar and Samantha Simpson with two apiece.

Grapeland was paced by Jones with six while a quintet of Sandiettes (Reagan Bishop, Ragan Bowie, Chipman, Deana McKnight and Woods) all had two as Grapeland opened up a 26-14 lead by halftime.

After the break, Buffalo came out firing and cut the lead to single digits until the Sandiettes turned up the defensive intensity and pushed their lead to 14 point after three. Chipman led the way in the third with five points while Jones dropped in four. KeKe Harris broke into the scoring column with three and was joined by Woods who also had three.

The Lady Bison were led by Dittmar in the third quarter with nine points while both Taylor Beshaers and Rhodes added two each.

With the score 41-27 to start the final quarter, the Sandiettes put the game on ice as they outscored the Lady Bison 13-3 in the final eight minutes of action. Beshears had two while Melanie McGill made one of two from the line to close out the Buffalo scoring.

Jones continued to be a force as she added six more to her total while Woods had five and Bowie knocked down a two to seal the Grapeland win by a final of 54-30.

For the game, Buffalo was led by Mollie Dittmar with 13 and Kayleigh Rhodes with nine points. Samantha Simpson netted four, Taylor Beshears dropped in two and both Yomele Almeida and Melanie McGill had one.

The Sandiettes were led by Teira Jones with a game-high 22 points. Kenya Woods poured in 12, Hannah Chipman added nine, Ragan Bowie dropped in four and Keke Harris had three. Both Reagan Bishop and Deana McKnight scored two each to round out the Grapeland point production.

The Sandiettes were back in action on Tuesday, Nov. 14 against the Henderson Lions, but as of press time, the final score was not available.

Will Johnson may be contacted via e-mail at [email protected].