The Bainbridge High School Bearcats dropped a tight 77-75 decision to the Dougherty High School Trojans Saturday night in Albany.

Tyree Crump led the Bearcats, who are 1-2 for the season, with a game-high 26 points. Also in double figures was Trevon Shaw with 19 and Devontae Jones with 12.

Rounding out the Bearcats scoring column were Donta Williams with 6, Myles Thomas with 4 and Milton Gayle with 1. The Bearcats led most of the game. The score was tied 15-15 at the end of the first quarter. A 31-19 second quarter scoring advantage put the Bearcats ahead 46-34 at halftime. They led 60-53 after three quarters.

Bearcats coach Rickey McCullough said he liked his teams hustle and desire Friday against Dougherty in a game that was in doubt right up until the very end.

“We are working hard in practices and games and I am confident that everything will fall into place soon,” the Bearcats head coach said. “We are getting better with every game and that is what is extremely important right now.”

The Bearcats will return to action Saturday when they host the Region 1-AAAA Worth County High School Rams.

During the holidays, the Bearcats will be playing in the December 28, 29 and 30 Southern Beach Blowout Tournament in Fort Walton Beach, Florida.

The Bearcats returned to action Tuesday when they traveled to Moultrie to take on the Colquitt County High School Packers. They will travel back to Albany Friday to take on the Region 1-AAAA Westover High School Patriots.

While the Bearcats and Patriots are both members of Region 1-AAAA, Friday’s game did not count in the Region standings. Only the second game against the Patriots Tuesday, Jan. 26, in Bainbridge will count in the Region 1-AAAA standings.