Bearcats’ historic run comes to end in third-round playoff loss to Westminster School

Published 8:58 pm Tuesday, April 30, 2024

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The Bearcats historic run comes to an end with a 0-1 loss to Westminster School in the third round of the GHSA 4A state playoffs.

Westminster scored a goal in the 12th minute to take their one-point lead and added another in the 77th to cap off the game.

Bainbridge head coach Brian Hill was proud of his team’s perseverance late into the game.

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“We played hard and competed and hung right there with them,” Hill said. “They caught a few breaks and ours didn’t go in the goal when we needed them to.”

Despite the result, senior goalkeeper Lathan Holt was the only reason the Bearcats were still in the game late. Holt made four to five remarkable saves in the second half to keep the team alive. Tonight’s performance comes off of another career night in the first round of playoffs for Holt where he made two game-saving stops in a penalty shootout to lead the Bearcats to a win.

“He definitely stepped it up in the playoffs, and it showed tonight,” Hill said. “He had some great saves tonight and kept us in the game.

The third-round loss ends the season, and the Bearcats will be losing seven seniors: Lathan Holt, Joel Sarmiento, Joseph Perez, Tomas Gallo, Brock Williams, Mason Lamkin and Nicholas Tyre.

Bainbridge made it to the third round with a 5-1 victory over Wayne County High School in the second round. Sophomore striker Jose Bonilla-Ortiz led the team with two goals in the victory, but senior midfielder Brock Williams stole the show, scoring an acrobatic, diving header. 

Williams soared through the air to connect with a cross at the back post, netting the team’s third goal of the night. 

“Brock’s definitely a good offensive player,” Hill said. “He brings a spark to us.”

Sophomore midfielder Angel Bonilla-Ortiz and senior midfielder Joel Sarmiento each scored a penalty kick in the second half, giving the Bearcats their five-goal total.