Coach Heith Maxwell’s Bainbridge Middle School eighth-grade Bearcats basketball team dropped a close 56-53 decision to the Thomas County Central Middle School eighth-grade Yellow Jackets on the road Monday, bringing their successful season to an end.

The Bearcats, who finished their season with a 7-3 record, were led Monday by guard Mike Jones with 16 points. He was followed by center Stephen Johnson with 10 and forward Tavarous Bowman with 9.

Completing the Bearcats’ scoring chart Monday were forward Frank Bryant with 8, forward Devontae Holly with 7, point guard Jarvis Kelly with 5, and forwards T.J. Webb and Cortlind Miller with 4 apiece.

Maxwell said he thought his team progressed well during the season.

“Everyone made good progress, and the team got better from game to game,” he said. “We weren’t a great shooting team, but we really hustled, rebounded well, and did a good job on defense.”

The game was close throughout.

The Bearcats trailed 17-12 at the end of the first quarter, then bounced back to outscore the Yellow Jackets 15-14 in the second quarter to trail by just four, 31-27, at halftime.

A 19-8 third-quarter scoring edge put the Bearcats up 46-39 entering the fourth quarter. The Yellow Jackets bounced back to outscore the Bearcats 17-7 in the fourth quarter and seal the victory.