Jan. 7—The Durant Lady Lions basketball team stepped onto the court just like they would in warming up for any game. However, this wasn’t just any normal game.
With heavy hearts, the Lady Lions returned home for the first time since losing their leader in fifth-year head coach Will Robinson. The DHS alumnus and beloved pillar in the Durant community, passed away in a Christmas Eve car accident that also took the life of his 8-year old daughter, Clara.
There wasn’t an open seat to be had in the gymnasium as the community support in honoring Robinson could be felt by both Durant and McAlester fans. The Lady Buffaloes even wore blue hair ribbons to stand in solidarity for the tragedy bigger than basketball.
Fueled by their passion to honor their late leader, the Lady Lions cruised to a 76-71 victory, marking their second straight win.
Durant (7-4, 3-1 district) got off to a hot start when junior Emma Green and sophomore Ella Sorrels put a quick six points on the board. McAlester senior Shylie Mason would attempt and make her first triple of the season at the midway point of the opening period, but Lady Lions senior Rachel Cordell got the team right back in rhythm with a triple of her own.
The now 18-2 scoring run that carried over to the second quarter put McAlester (0-6, 0-6 district) in some early trouble and a layup by sophomore Iyana Wilson forced a Lady Buffaloes timeout with three minutes left in the half.
Sophomore Kambree Zummer, who was coming off a 19-point game against Will Rogers Friday, scored her first bucket to give McAlester a late spark. However, an immediately answered triple by Green on the following possession ceased any momentum for the black and gold as Durant held onto a 43-14 lead at the break.
The Lady Lions didn’t lose any steam in the second half despite an early push by the Lady Buffaloes. Wilson reached the 20 point mark with a deep shot from the perimeter and both Green and Sorrels continued to find ways to the basket.
While it may have been too little too late, McAlester wouldn’t back down. The Lady Buffaloes really found their groove late in the third period when Mason and senior Avrey Alberson knocked down back-to-back shots from beyond the arc though it would hardly make a dent in what would be an insurmountable 64-26 deficit.
A triple by Cordell to begin the fourth quarter led to the Lady Lions reserves getting some playing time and junior Zoe Lee made the most of her time on the floor. She scored two layups and racked up two blocks to seal the emotional 76-31 victory for Durant.
Lesnau led McAlester with 11 points and eight rebounds and Mason paced behind her with six points and three rebounds.
The Lady Buffaloes will next see action in McAlester’s Primus Moore Tournament where they will face Hugo (5-5) Thursday at 10 a.m.
