Bison end drought with win over Des Arc

Carlisle's Nick Schafer (13) shoots for 2 against Des Arc. Also pictured for Carlisle is Gray Amaden. (Photos by Mark Buffalo)

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

lonokecountysports@gmail.com

CARLISLE — For the first time since the 2012-13 season, the Carlisle Bison basketball team was victorious on the court.

Carlisle never trailed in beating the Des Arc Eagles 48-37 on Monday night at Bison Arena. 

The win was Carlisle's first since beating Palestine-Wheatley 86-60 in the quarterfinal round of the 2A-6 District Tournament at Hughes on Feb. 11, 2013. The Bison received a forfeit win over Brinkley last season. 

Carlisle scored the game's first six points, including four by Brynden Weems. The Eagles cut the deficit to 6-3 before the Bison scored the next seven points, including a 3-pointer by Devon Kendrick at the first-quarter buzzer to give the Bison a 13-3 lead.

Carlisle pushed its lead to 17-3 on four free throws by Nick Schafer early in the second quarter. Des Arc made a late run and trailed 22-13 at halftime and 22-15 early in the second half following a basket by Jacob Adams.

The Bison responded with a 7-0 run to lead 29-16 with 4:24 left in the third quarter. Schafer and Cole Sheets each scored two points while Kendrick hit a 3-pointer.

Carlisle's largest lead was 18 points at 39-21 and 41-23. The Eagles went on a 7-0 run to pull to within 11 at 41-30 with 3:50 left. The closest that Des Arc would get is 10 points at 47-37 with 25 seconds left. Kendrick set the final margin by hitting 1 of 2 foul shots with 21.3 seconds left.

First-year Carlisle coach Chris Houser was proud of his team for the win. 

"We weren't used to playing with a lead in the fourth quarter at all," he said. "They started to press us and we had to handle that. It was a hard-fought win, for sure."

Schafer led the Bison with 14 points. Kendrick had 11. Weems scored 8. Sheets had 7. Lewis Bunch and Drake Adams had 3 points each. Gray Amaden added 2 points. 

Colt Covington led Des Arc with 14 points. 

Carlisle's Brynden Weems looks to pass against Des Arc.