A strong second half offensive run by coach Heith Maxwell’s Bainbridge Middle School eighth grade Bearcats fell just short at the Decatur County Memorial Coliseum Wednesday as the Thomas County Central Middle School eighth grade Yellow Jackets hung on for a 50-47 victory.

The Yellow Jackets led 17-6 at the end of the first quarter and 26-17 at halftime. The Bearcats cut the advantage to two at 39-37 after three quarters.

Leading the strong comeback for the Bearcats were point guard Dewayne Kiles and Anthony Flowers, who each scored 12 points apiece. Center Anthony Florence led all Lady Cat scorers with 13.

Coach Maxwell said his team’s late comeback that fell just short tells him a lot about charter.

“When I called a time out late in the game and we were down by six points, I told the players to keep playing strong defense and getting the ball to an open man with a good look at the basket,” the Bearcats coach said. “They did and it almost enabled them to pull out the victory. I could not be prouder of them.”

The Bearcats take a 4-2 record into the holidays. They will return to action Jan. 4 when they travel to Thomasville to take on the Macintyre Park Middle School eighth grade Bulldogs. They will travel to Donalsonville Jan. 7 to take on the Seminole County Middle School eighth grade Indians.

The final two games of the season will be Jan. 11 when they host Macintyre Park and Jan. 13 when they host Cairo’s Washington Middle School eighth grade Tigers.