Congratulations to the Bearcats and Lady Cats for reaching the Final 4!

It’s a pretty impressive feat that the boys and girls teams are both going to Georgia’s Final 4!

The Bearcats came from behind for a 50-46 victory over Statesboro High School Friday.

The Lady Cats beat Hardaway 69-58 Friday to earn their entry into the Final 4 by staying out front most of the game in double digits.

As BHS coach and Bearcat historian Chip Ariail said Friday, it’s quite remarkable and rare that the teams of one school would advance so far in the state basketball playoffs.

Bainbridge was one of three schools with both their girls and boys teams in the Elite 8—Marist and Fayette County were the other two. Marist’s boys lost to the Bearcats’ next opponent, Tucker. On the girls side, Marist and Fayette County played each other late Friday, so only one will be in the Final 4.

The Bearcats have been to the Final 4 one other time—1974—when they lost.

The Lady Cats have been to the Final 4 twice before—1982 and 1996—which they both lost to the eventual state champions.

This year, maybe it’s the Cats’ year.

The play by the members of the Bearcats and Lady Cats has been full of heart and soul this last season. Just look at their records at the Coliseum—Bearcats won 18 straight games and are undefeated at home. The Lady Cats were 16-1 at home.

Coaches Rickey McCullough and Latreisha Moon and their players deserve our congratulations for their play, their record and their accomplishments to this point.

Bainbridge High School Principal Tommie Howell said these past couple of games have brought a lot of members of the community out to the Coliseum’s last days as the home of the Cats.

That support needs to get behind the basketball teams as they go into Wednesday’s Final 4.

And then once the Cats move into their new home, let’s make sure the beginnings of the new home of the Bearcats is special; just like the ending.