The Bainbridge Middle School eighth grade Lady Cats dropped a 39-30 decision to Cairo’s Washington Middle School eighth grade Lady Tigers after a strong second half comeback fell just short Wednesday at the Decatur County Memorial Coliseum.

Trailing 24-12 at halftime, the Lady Cats outscored the visitors 9-4 in the third quarter to trail by just seven, 28-21, entering the fourth quarter. They were edged 11-9 in the fourth quarter.

“I was proud of the way we came back in the fourth quarter to make it close,” Lady Cats head coach Marion Bush said. “Everybody contributed. The highlight of our season was our two victories over the Seminole County Middle School Lady Indians.

Leading scorer for the Lady Cats was India Parris with 15 points. Carmen Fillingame scored 8, LaShonda Williams scored 3, and Denise Chappell and Ashari Fudge scored 2 apiece.

“I really thought our young players learned a lot this season,” coach Bush said. “In addition to Parris, Fillingame, Williams, Chappell and Fudge, we also got solid efforts from Mekyia Kzeaten Samiya Hines, Destiny Dunkin, Danielle Jones and Destiny Turner, Nyla Register, Ashara Fudge and Renee Filllingame.