BEARCATS SURVIVE OVERTIME OPENER

Three times the Booneville Bearcats opened a double digit lead over Mansfield in their season opener, and each time Mansfield closed the gap.

The Bearcats eventually won in overtime, 68-63.

It was 54-44 with 4:36 to play after a basket from Colter Fisher (shown) before Mansfield heated up from long range.

The Tigers hit 15 times from 3-point land in the game, including five in the fourth quarter. The Tigers’ last nine points came from beyond the arc with a 3 tying the game at 58-58 with 44 seconds to go.

Head coach Ronnie Denton had the Bearcats set up for a final shot from there but were unable to convert and a desperation heave by the Tigers was well off the mark.

After two free throw misses by the Tigers, Fisher gave the Bearcats a 60-58 lead and Evan Escobedo extended it to 62-58 with 2:19 left in the extra period.

Escobedo scored 20 points in the game to go along with eight rebounds and five assists. Fisher finished with 14 points and six rebounds.

Mansfield cut it to 62-60 but Fisher fed C.J. Johnson to make it 64-60.

After a miss by the Tigers the Bearcats worked the clock and shot free throws. Two by London Lee made it 66-60 with 16.1 seconds to go and two more by Fisher with 5.8 seconds left clinched it.

Mansfield set the final with its final 3.

Lee was the third Bearcat in double figures with 11. He also had six rebounds and three assists.

Mansfield had opened the game with a 3 but the Bearcats built a six point lead on an Escobedo basket.

It was 19-18 with 6:15 to play in the half and the Bearcats went on a 9-0 run that started with a Lee 3 and included one by Johnson to make it 28-18.

Mansfield twice got within seven but a basket by Johnson gave the Bearcats a 32-23 lead at the intermission.

Toby Brown scored with 6:25 to go in the third quarter and it was a 36-26 game but Mansfield scored the next seven points.

Brown’s second basket of the quarter came at the buzzer and gave the Bearcats a 46-41 lead.

Lee started the fourth quarter with a 3 and baskets by Rayden Ferguson and Fisher pushed the lead to 54-44.