The Bainbridge High School Bearcats defeated the Cook County High School Hornets 51-39 in the first round of the Region 1-AAAA Basketball Tournament Monday at Albany’s Monroe High School gymnasium. 

The win advanced them to the tournament’s second round on Tuesday where they took on the Americus-Sumter County High School Panthers at the Albany High School gymnasium.

The Bearcats put three players in double figures Monday. Devontae Jones led the way with 15 points. Trevon Shaw added 12 and Isiah Harris put in 10.

Ronald Roundtree led the Hornets with 14 points. Trey Jackson was also in double figures for the Hornets with 12.

The Bearcats started strong outscoring the Hornets 16-7 in the first quarter. The Hornets edged the Bearcats 10-9 in the second quarter to cut the halftime advantage to eight, 25-17 at halftime.

A 13-10 third quarter scoring edge cut the advantage to five at 35-30. The Bearcats then outscored the Panthers 16-4 in the fourth quarter to put the game away.

Bearcat Tyree Crump, who was originally suspended for two games for an on court incident during last Friday’s home game against Americus-Sumter has had his suspension extended to four games because he also had an earlier suspension.

Americus-Sumter County point guard Javon Hughes, who was suspended for two games for being involved in Friday’s on-court incident, did not play against the Bearcats Tuesday. The Bearcats’ bench players, who came onto the court during Friday’s on court incident, served their second and final suspension day Monday.

Bearcats coach Rickey McCullough said Isaiah Harris filling in as the fifth starter played very well against Cook County.

“Isiah contributed 10 points and played well on both ends of the court,” McCullough said.