Coach Rickey McCullough’s Bainbridge High School Bearcats basketball team dropped a 41-39 season-opening game to the Malone, Fla., High School Tigers Tuesday night in Malone.

“We played good defense and played hard on both ends of the floor,” McCullough said after the game. “We lost on a three-point shot at the buzzer, but we had our chances to win. The Bearcats scoring chart was balanced with nine players breaking into the scoring column.”

Trea Kelly led the way with 10 points and also pulled down seven rebounds. He was followed by forward Rodney Glenn with 6 and forward Shawn Samuels and Dontavius Marshall with 5 apiece.

Ronald Crawford had 4 points and 2 assists, and Adam Taylor had 3 points and a team-high 8 rebounds.

Rounding out the Bearcats’ scoring chart Tuesday were guard Lee Glaze, Paul Chukes and Jamar Cosby with 2 points apiece.

The Bearcats returned to action last night, hosting the Randolph-Clay High School Red Devils at 8 p.m. at the Bainbridge High School Gymnasium.

They will then be off until Friday, Dec. 10, when they travel to Moultrie for an 8 p.m. game with the Colquitt County High School Packers.

After a 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11, game against the Thomasville High School Bulldogs in Thomasville, the Bearcats will host the Bulldogs Tuesday, Dec. 14, at 7 p.m.