Laura Higgason scored 22 points and Gabby Silder added 14, leading the McIntosh High School Lady Chiefs to a 55-45 victory over the Bainbridge High School Lady Cats in the first round of the Class AAAA tournament here Friday night.

The loss ended the Lady Cats outstanding season with a 20-7 record, a Region 1AAAA South Sub-Region championship and a second-place Region 1AAAA Tournament finish,

April Thomas of the Lady Cats took game-scoring honors with 28 points, and Bria Harris was also in double figures for the Lady Cats with 11.

Thomas gave the Lady Cats an early three-point lead when she hit a three-point jumper from the left side with 6:03 left in the first quarter. Then Silder made it 3-1 with a free throw. Ellie Sanders hit a three-point jumper from the right side to make ti 4-3.

Higgason completed the scoring run with a three-point jumper from the right side as the Lady Chiefs went on to score the next six straight points to take a 7-3 lead.

The Lady Cats led 12-8 at the end of the first quarter. The Lady Chiefs then bounced back to take a 28-16 half-time lead.

Thomas’ lay-up with 4:30 in the third quarter got the Bearcats to within seven, 34-27. The Lady Cats were down by eight, 44-36, at the end of the third quarter.

Thomas’ free throw 6:42 left in the game got the Lady Cats to within six at 46-40, but the Lady Cats couldn’t get any closer.

After the game, Lady Cats coach Latreisha Moon pointed out that Thomas certainly did her part, but the team couldn’t get any balance in their overall scoring.

She said Thomas and Harris, who were both in double figures, were the only two consistent scorers during the Lady Cats’ final game.