Rakasha Johnson hit a jumper from the left side with 50.3 seconds remaining in the game Friday to give the Thomasville Lady Bulldogs a 50-48 victory over the Bainbridge Lady Cats.
Bearcats coach Kelvin Cochran said he thought his team played hard and made a lot of key baskets, but just came up a little short down the stretch.
“I told the players after the game that I thought they did a good job and we had our chances to win” Cochran said. “We had some turnovers, but I liked our hustle.
“At the end with just a few seconds remaining in the game we tried to throw a long pass to Beonka Madge and let her drive down the lane for a potential winning shot, but it just did not work out.”
The Lady Cats took the early lead 4-0 on a layup by Patra Parris with just 15 seconds gone in the game and a jumper in the lane by Tameria Levens with 7:07 left in the opening quarter.
They went up by four, 13-9, when Parris banged in a layup off the left glass with 2:25 remaining in the opening quarter. They were out front 17-15 entering the second quarter.
A 3-pointer by Alexandria Carter and a jumper in the lane by Parris at the 4:24 and 4:55 marks of the second quarter gave the Lady Cats a six point, 25-19 lead.
Beonka Madge hit a jumper from the left side with just 40 seconds remaining in the second quarter to send the Lady Cats to half time with a 31-24 lead. They trailed 41-38 after three quarters.
The Lady Cats went up 48-41 when Parris hit two free throws with 5:31 remaining in the fourth quarter. The Lady Bulldogs pulled even 48-48 when Denisha Jones, who finished with 12 points, hit a layup off the right glass with 3:28 remaining in the game.
The Lady Cats hosted the Crisp County Lady Cougars in a Region 1-AAAA game Friday night and will take on the Cairo High School Syrupmaids in a Region 1-AAAA game Saturday in Cairo.