BUFFALO, W.Va. — The Wahama boys basketball team saved its best for last, but that effort still wasn’t enough Tuesday night during a 71-68 setback to host Buffalo in a non-conference matchup in Putnam County.

The visiting White Falcons (1-3) rallied from a 10-point third quarter deficit to knot things up at 68 with a minute left in regulation, but the Bison (4-1) came up with a small 3-0 spurt over the final 60 seconds to wrap up a contested one-possession decision.

Trailing 70-68 with seven seconds left, Isaac Lee drove the lane and made what appeared to be a game-tying basket while being fouled. The officials, however, called Lee for a player-control foul, which nullified the basket and gave BHS possession.

Buffalo was fouled on the ensuing possession, and the Bison sank 1-of-2 free throws to make it a 71-68 contest with four seconds left. Wahama missed its game-tying opportunity in the waning moments, which led to the Falcons’ second straight setback.

Buffalo jumped out to a small 12-11 lead after eight minutes of play, then used a 24-16 surge in the second canto to take a 36-27 intermission advantage. The hosts also went on a small 19-18 run in the third to take a 55-45 edge into the finale.

WHS outscored the Bison 23-13 over the opening seven minutes down the stretch, but Buffalo managed to hold on. The guests outrebounded BHS by a 40-27 margin, but Buffalo also made nine trifectas in the decision.

Lee led Wahama with 28 points, followed by Hunter Oliver with 15 points and Wyatt Zuspan with 12 markers. Jacob Ortiz and Austin Jordan chipped in respective totals of six and five points, while Tyler Roush rounded out the scoring with two markers.

The White Falcons committed 18 turnovers and were also 12-of-20 at the free throw line for 60 percent. Oliver and Ortiz hauled in 11 rebounds each in the setback.

Levi Jordan paced the hosts and all scorers with 37 points, followed by Alex Ferrari with 14 and Isaiah Robinson with six markers. Buffalo was 12-of-16 at the charity stripe for 75 percent and also committed 17 turnovers. Jordan also recorded a double-double with 10 rebounds.

Wahama returns to action Friday when it hosts Meigs in a non-conference tripleheader at 5 p.m.

W11-16-18-23 — 68

B12-24-19-16 — 71

WAHAMA (1-3): Isaac Lee 12 4-5 28, Wyatt Zuspan 5 1-6 12, Tyler Roush 1 0-0 2, Austin Jordan 2 0-1 5, Jacob Ortiz 3 0-0 6, Hunter Oliver 4 7-8 15, Derek Hysell 0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 27 12-20 68. Three-point goals: 2 (Zuspan, Jordan). Rebounds: 40. Assists: 10. Steals: 9. Turnovers: 18.

BUFFALO (4-1): Isaiah Robinson 2 1-1 6, Laythen Good 1 2-2 5, Jarrett Smith 1 0-0 3, Levi Jordan 13 6-9 37, Aaron Lewis 0 0-0 0, Dylan Rich 0 0-0 0, Bradley Harris 1 2-2 4, Alex Ferrari 6 1-2 14, Jordan Fletcher 1 0-0 2. TOTALS: 25 12-16 71. Three-point goals: 9 (Jordan 5, Robinson, Good, Smith, Ferrari). Rebounds: 27. Turnovers: 17.