The Americus-Sumter County High School Lady Panthers edged the Bainbridge High School Lady Cats 53-47 here Saturday night.

Leading the way for the Lady Cats was Nadia Marshall with 15 points. Also in double figures was Tytianna Roseborough with13 and Alexis Russ with 12.

The Lady Cats, who trailed 16-9 at the end of the first quarter and 28-19 at halftime, outscored the Lady Panthers 14-13 in the third quarter to pull within eight at 41-33, after three quarters. They got within four, at 46-42, in the fourth quarter.

“We got close late, but we just could not pull ahead,” Lady Cats coach Kelvin Cochran said after the game. “We had a game plan but did not execute it very well. We gave up too many offensive rebounds and put backs. Overall, our effort was not what it should have been. We just need to go back to work and get some things straightened out and I am extremely confident that we will do just that.”

The Lady Cats, who are 10-3 on the season, returned to action Tuesday when they traveled to Thomasville, where they had just finished a strong second in the Thomasville High School Lady Bulldogs annual Holiday Hoopfest, to take on the Lady Bulldogs.

On Friday, the Lady Cats will travel to Cordele to take on the Crisp County High School Lady Cougars and on Saturday they host the Cairo High School Syrupmaids in the first game that will count in the Region 1-AAAA standings.

While Dougherty, Westover, Worth County, Thomas County Central, Cairo, Americus-Sumter, Crisp County, Albany, Cook County and Monroe are all members of Region 1-AAAA, only the second time the teams play count in the Region 1-AAAA standings.