Coach Rickey McCullough’s Bainbridge High School Bearcats opened their 2012-2013 basketball season Tuesday night, with a 63-42 home victory over the visiting Colquitt County High School Packers.

They were scheduled to host the Tift County High School Blue Devils on Friday night.

They were led Tuesday night by freshman Tyree Crump and junior Dontavius Marshall, who combined for 34 points. Crump led the way with 18 and Marshall put in 16. Kanoris Woods was the high scorer for the Packers, with 14 points.

The Bearcats and Packers were supposed to open the season against each other last Friday night in Moultrie, but the game was cancelled because the Packers’ football team was involved in a playoff game.

McCullough said he and Colquitt County officials tried to find a mutual date to reschedule the game, but they were unable to find one.

“We just could not find a date that was open for both teams,” McCullough said. “It was not a region game for us or a region game for them, so it did not have to be rescheduled.”

The Bearcats took an early lead Tuesday night, and continued to build on it.

Crump put the Bearcats up 15-7, when he hit a jumper from the right side with 3:20 remaining in the first quarter. They increased that least to 20-13 by the quarter’s end.

Tim Shaw, who finished with 10 points, gave the Bearcats their first double-digit lead, when he hit two free throws with 6:41 remaining in the second quarter to put them up 24-13.

The Bearcats outscored the Packers 12-4 down the second quarter stretch to build their lead to 36-17 at halftime.

“I thought we hustled and played hard,” McCullough said after the game. “Now we have to get ready for a strong Tift County team.”