Bearcats’ rally late, fall to Seminole Co. by close margin
Published 10:43 pm Friday, January 3, 2014
Tyree Crump falls back in the air as he tries to make a basket during Friday night’s game against the Seminole County Indians — Powell Cobb
The Bainbridge Bearcats started as fast and competitive as they have any other game, but began to slip in the third quarter against the Seminole County Indians and ended up dropping a close 66-58 decision.
“I thought we had a good game plan,” admitted Bearcats coach Rickey McCullough. “We were zoning them and standing around. We did a pretty good job in the first half keeping them in front of us and testing threes. We just had a bad stretch late there in the third quarter and it started to get away from us.”
The Bearcats entered the locker room at half time ahead with the score at 29-24. The game had been close up until that point. Both teams were aggressive, diving across the court to save balls and make plays.
But Seminole County ruled the second half, scoring 41 more points compared to the Bearcats’ 29 points.
Sophomore Tyree Crump led the team in scoring with 22 points, sinking four three-pointers and helping set the momentum in the first half.
Behind Crump were Mike Jones with 11 points and Stephen Johnson with eight points. The low-scoring efforts from the Bearcats have made it difficult for the Bearcats to secure leads and come away with wins.
Stephen Johnson fights against an Indian in the air to make a goal during Friday night’s game against Seminole County. Johnson scored six points on the night. The Bearcats lost 65-58 to Seminole County — Powell Cobb
By the end of the game, the Bearcats were fouling the Indians in hopes they would miss their free throws and give the balls back to Bainbridge. Seminole County made their free throws. The Bearcats didn’t.
“If we were making our free throws we probably would have won by two or three points,” Crump said. “It was crazy. We had to foul them to try and get a shot. But they hit all their free throws.”
McCullough said he was looking forward to bouncing back against Saturday’s game against Miller County, but needed his players to step up.
“We need some players to step up,” McCullough said. “We’re struggling with some guys who need to step up and make some plays.”
The Bearcats tip off against Miller County at 7:30 p.m. at the Bainbridge gymnasium.
Monday, the Bainbridge ninth grade Bearcats play Thomasville High School at home. The Lady Cats will play at 5 p.m. and the Bearcats will play at 6 p.m.
