The Bainbridge High School Lady Cats basketball team defeated the Thomas County Central High School Lady Yellow Jackets 49-29 Tuesday in the opening round of the Region 1-AAAA Tournament in Americus.

In their Tuesday win over the Lady Yellow Jackets, the Lady Cats were led by Nadia Marshal with 10 points. Tiara King added nine, Alexis Russ scored seven, Tyra Smart scored six, Asia Gordon scored five. Rakia Hughes, I’yanna Gibbs and Tiana Miller all had four.

Coach Cochran said he thought his team’s well-executed defense was the difference in the game.

“We drew up a good defensive plan and the young ladies took it to the court and executed it well,” Cochran said. “We not only put pressure on the ball handlers and caused turnovers. We also did not let their key shooters get good looks at the basket. Thomas County Central was unable to put anyone in double figures.”

The Lady Cats beat the Lady Yellow Jackets twice during the regular season and Coach Cochran knew going into the game that it would not be easy to beat them a third time.

“Central had some trouble scoring during the season, but we knew if they ever put everything together they had the ability to pull an upset,” Cochran said. “We were determined that we would not let that happen.”

The win over the Lady Yellow Jackets advanced the Lady Cats to the tournament’s second round in Americus where they took on Albany’s Westover High School Lady Patriots

The Bainbridge High School Lady Cats dropped a close 27-23 decision to Albany’s Westover High School Lady Patriots Thursday in Americus to finish fourth in the Region 1-AAAA Tournament.

In the game, which was a defensive struggle all the way, the Bearcats were missing

two key players due to injuries. Alexis Russ was out with a torn ACL ligament and Tytiana Roseborough missed the game with a strained ACL ligament.

“We had beaten Westover by 13 points and 16 points in our two regular season meetings,” Lady Cats coach Kelvin Cochran said. “Westover slowed the game down and played strong defense. Tytiana Roseborough was our best three-point shooter and her not being there really heart. We played hard, but several of our put backs just rimmed out.”

The Bearcats trailed 4-2 at the end of the first quarter, 15-9 at halftime and 23-20 after three quarters. As the fourth place finishing Region 1-AAAA team Bainbridge will play either Jonesboro or Mount Zion in a first round State Class AAAA game next Tuesday on the road.

“We will just go back to work and get ready for our state tournament opponent,” Cochran said. “We have to have Roseborough back.”