James Lodman pumped in a game-high 20 points Tuesday night in Chipley, Fla., to lead the Bainbridge High School Bearcats to a 75-70 season-opening victory over the Chipley High School Tigers.

It was a homecoming for Bearcats head coach Rickey McCullough, who coached 27 years at Chipley.

Lodman was one of four Bearcats in double figures. His teammates, Melzie Johnson, Devario Thomas and TeRandy Colston, all had 11. John Taylor just missed double digits with a nine-point effort.

Markeith Bell and Leon Braxton shared high-point honors for the Tigers with 15 apiece. Their teammate, A.J. Roublac, added 14.

The Tigers grabbed the early lead, jumping out to a19-11 advantage at the end of the first quarter. The Bearcats bounced back to outscore their hosts 27-18 in the second quarter and take a 38-37 halftime lead.

Both teams scored 17 third-quarter points and the Bearcats went to the third quarter with a slim 55-54 lead. The Bearcats then outscored the Tigers 20-16 in the fourth quarter to put the game away.

The Bearcats returned to action Friday when they took on the Mitchell County High School Eagles in Camilla.

They will open their home season Thursday, Dec. 11, when they host East Gadsden High School from Quincy, Fla.