By Byron Beers/Staff Writer

Despite a late rally by El Reno, the 5A top-ranked Carl Albert Titans proved to be too much for the Indians Tuesday night at Jenks Simmons Field House.

The Titans leaned on the strong play of Joe Stoner, Jordan Price and Gerry Branch as the trio combined for 38 points in a 54-44 victory.

Stoner scored a game-high 17 points, while Price added 11 and Branch followed with 10.

El Reno, which fell to 3-11 overall and 1-8 in the Suburban Conference, dropped its second straight in as many nights. The Indians couldn’t secure an 11-point second-half lead against Western Heights Monday night and lost 52-29 in overtime.

Junior forward Taylor Wedman led El Reno with 13 points against the Titans. Junior Glenn Wedman had 11 points, and sophomore Fayzon Richey finished with nine.

The Indians never led in the contest and fell behind by as many as 10 points in the first half and nine in the second.

El Reno sliced the Carl Albert lead to two points during the first two minutes of the fourth quarter after a 7-0 run on a basket by Taylor Wedman and a pair of 3-pointers from Jared Krittenbrink.

But the Titans answered with a 9-0 surge to put the game away. Price scored five straight points to start the run.