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After a much-needed five-day break between games the Bainbridge Bearcats (7-11, 1-4) squared off against the Dougherty Trojans showcasing exemplary heart in a tightly contested 56-54 loss where the final few possessions felt like an extra quarter of action due to mismanagement of timeouts that resulted in two critical technical free-throws for the Bearcats that went one-for-two late in the matchup. 

The Bearcats trailed by just eight at the break 32-24 and handled the parade of three-pointers from Dougherty who connected on six in the first half. 

Sophomore No. 23 Keion Williams led Bainbridge in scoring with 13 points and scoring 10 in the second half. Senior guard No. 3 Stacey Glenn had eight followed by senior forward No. 4 Camryn Scott and No. 21 Tyrese Jones both scored seven for the Bearcats. 

Fighting tooth and nail defined this matchup against Dougherty to a tee, you blink your eyes and it’s a one-possession game with under sixty seconds. 

“Regardless of whether or not both free throws were made, we were going to be down one and needed a three. It’s situational stuff,”  BHS boys basketball coach Kelvin Cochran said.“I thought the guys did a good job of executing, Keion stumbled when he caught the ball and the defender closed on him.” 

This is all a learning curve for the Bearcats and added confidence for the coaching staff to see the fight compared to Bainbridge’s last game against Westover. 

The Bearcats would play the top-seeded Monroe Golden Tornadoes who are undefeated in Region 3 play and lose 66-38.

Jones led the Bearcats with nine points, while Williams and No. 2 junior guard Trent Lee both finished with six points. 

This is all a learning curve for the Bearcats and added confidence for the coaching staff to see the fight compared to Bainbridge’s last game against Westover. 

“When we watch the film and see themselves on film,” Cochran said. “It was a challenge to play harder, match the intensity because every team in Albany is going to be just like, Westover.” 

Bainbridge participated in the Martin Luther King shootout hosted by Monroe High School. It was matched up with Randolph-Clay (16-2, 11-2), but it lost 52-41.    

“We are in a tough region as is, the Albany schools specialize in basketball,” Cochran said. “We have to play good competition regardless, every opportunity we get a chance to play, there’s a chance to get better for the region tournament and state playoff.” 

The Bearcats’ next two games, this Friday and Saturday, against the Westover Patriots and rivals Cairo Syrupmakers, have been rescheduled. Bainbridge’s region rematch against Westover has been moved to Feb. 6 at 6:30 p.m., and the Cairo rematch at Cairo High School Gymnasium will be played on Feb. 8. The JV boys will play at 4:00 p.m., and the varsity basketball team will play at 7:30 p.m. 

The Bainbridge boys’ and girls’ programs will travel to Thomas County Central on Tuesday, January 28, after rescheduling. On Friday, January 31, they will host Monroe to celebrate Senior Night at 7:30 p.m. The following day, they will host Peach County in a game that was moved up on the schedule, the girls’ varsity game starting at 3:00 p.m. and the boys’ game at 4:30 p.m.