Just 21 seconds into the third quarter Lavaca was up by 16 at 29-13. At the 7:37 mark of the final quarter the game was tied at 36.
It would be no more than a two-possession game the rest of the night before Lavaca ultimately escaped with a 51-47 win to spoil senior night for the Bearcats.
After a time out once the deficit reached 16 Lavaca remained in complete control for another minute leading 31-16 before the Bearcats mounted a rally.
On the way to tying the game at 36-36, it Tayden Washburn and Drake Brackney both scoring 8 points and Reed Brackney (shown) putting in a couple of baskets as well.
After Washburn tied it with 7:37 to play the Golden Arrows went in front by hitting three-of-four free throws over a 47 second span and led the rest of the way.
A basket by Nick Widener made it a one-point game with 4:55 to play and twice there was just three points separating the teams before a Washburn basket with 52 seconds left made it 48-46.
A Drake Brackney free throw with 24.9 seconds to go made it 49-47 and although there was a miss on the second shot, the Bearcats got the rebound, but turned the ball over.
Lavaca got one free throw with 5.5 seconds left and a basket at the buzzer to set the final.
Washburn finished with 19 points and Drake Brackney added 12.
Lavaca 54 Lady Bearcats 45
With starting point guard Anna Ferguson unavailable, the Booneville Lady Bearcats had turnover problems in the early going and were never able to overcome the damage created in a 54-45 senior night loss to Lavaca.
Easy baskets created by the turnovers and free throws – there were a combined 57 by the two teams as a combined 44 fouls were called – helped Lavaca to lead by as many as 14 in the first quarter.
The Lady Golden Arrows would open as much as a 16-point lead before a Lady Bearcat rally that saw a 3-point play by freshman Alycin Pearcy, a basket by Raelynn Franklin, and a couple of free throws by Haylee Taylor cut it in half at 39-31.
Lavaca used free throws to push the lead back to 13 by the end of the quarter and the Lady bearcats got no closer than nine the rest of the way.
Pearcy led the Lady Bearcats with 12 points. Tempi Terry scored 9 in her final home game.
BEARCATS RALLY FROM 16 DOWN BUT CANNOT OVERCOME LAVACA
