The Bainbridge High School Bearcats dropped a 62-45 decision to the Thomas County Central High School Yellow Jackets here Tuesday night.

The loss dropped the Bearcats’ regular season record to 15-7. They are third with a 6-4 record in Region 1-AAAAA.

BHS will host the sixth place Harris County High School Tigers in a Region 1-AAAAA Tournament play in game next Wednesday, February 13 at 6 p.m.

The winner will advance to the Region Tournament which will be played here Friday and Saturday, February 15 and 16

The first place Northside Columbus High School Patriots and second place Columbus Hardaway High School Golden Hawks will draw byes in the first round of the Region Tounament.

The Thomas County Central Yellow Jackets, who upset the Bearcats Tuesday night, finish fifth in the Region and will travel to Leesburg next Tuesday, February 12 for a Region Tournament play in game with the fourth place Lee County High School Trojans,

The Bearcats will conclude their regular season with a Friday road game against the Cairo High School Syrupmakers and a Saturday home game against the Seminole County High School Indians.

“We picked a bad game not to play our best,” Bearcats coach Rickey McCullough said following Tuesday night’s loss to the Yellow Jackets. “We missed a lot of layups that just rimmed out.”

Tuesday night’s game was close throughout the first half.

The Beacats trailed 14-12 at the end of the first quarter.

They trailed by just six, 43-37, when guard Justin Baker hit two free throws with 5:31 left in the game, but the Yellow Jackets outscored them 19-8 the rest of the way.

Forward Stephen Johnson and guard Tyree Crump paced the Bearcats scoring attack with11 points apiece.

Allen Wade of the Yellow Jackets took game scorings honors with 21. Matt Priest was also in double figures with 10.