First round goes well for McAlester

By JOHN YATES

It was a sweep of Hilldale by McAlester’s boys and girls teams over the Hornets Monday night, in tournament action at Muskogee High School.

The Lady Buffs overcame a slow start while their opponent did not, and went on to notch a 34 point win, 57-24, over Hilldale in the first night of the 30th Annual Bedouin Shrine Classic basketball tournament.

Shay Griffin led all scorers with 24 points for McAlester and her teammate Allison Eales, poured in 15 points including four from behind the arc.

McAlester’s girls team scored only four points for Head Coach Crystal Robinson in the first four-plus minutes of the contest. That was four more than Hilldale scored. The Lady Hornets did not score until 1:41 remained in the opening period and even then was held without a field goal for the entire quarter.

The Lady Buffs did not play as crisp either, but Hilldale proved largely incapable of scoring from the field in the first half. They would manage one two point field goal for the entire first half. Hilldale managed four free throws to go with that one two-point basket and trailed 28-6 at the half. Meanwhile Griffin had half her 24 in the first half, while Eales and Lesley Huff each had five in the first half.

In the third period, Hilldale’s 14 points was more than they scored in the other three combined. Still, McAlester took that period 18-14, and won the fourth 11-4, to earn the win.

The Lady Buffs’ next opponents are yet to be determined for Friday evening in semifinals action at the Muskogee Civic Center. The tip off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

In the late nightcap game, the Buffaloes topped 80 points. They notched an 83-59 win over Hilldale and got back to .500 on the season, at 3-3.

Hilldale had the first basket, McAlester tied the score and then took their first lead at 5-4 in the first period. McAlester’s Head Coach Jerry McCormick, watched his team lead the rest of the way.

Five Buffaloes scored in double digits in the game; Ben Collier, who had game-high honors with 19; Prevon Erving, scored 18; David DeGiacomo, followed for the Buffs with 16, and both Delante Redway and Clifvonte Smitherman added 10 points apiece in the effort.

At one point, in the first quarter McAlester was up 15-4 and doubled the Hornets after one, at 18-9.

Hilldale got to the free throw line 16 times in the second quarter, making 11 of them. The Hornets took the quarter 19-16, but trailed by seven, 34-27, at the break.

Second half action saw McAlester pull away from Hilldale. The Buffaloes won the half 49-32, while they controlled the third and fourth quarters 20-15 and 29-17. Collier had a big third period for McAlester, he scored 10 of his 19 points for the game in the third quarter.

McAlester’s boys play Friday night at 9 p.m.,. against an opponent yet to be determined. That game will be at the Muskogee Civic Center. For continued updates on the McAlester basketball teams look to the McAlester News-Capital.

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