BEARCATS SUFFER FIRST LOSS IN TOURNAMENT FINALS

The Booneville Bearcats dropped their first game of the season, 56-52 to Acorn Saturday night, in the finals of the Booneville Invitational, settling for a runner-up finish.

The Bearcats (4-1) had started the game by running off the first seven points and also led 10-2 after a 3 by Evan Escobedo.

By the end of the quarter the Tigers had trimmed the lead to 13-9.

The Tigers eventually drew even but a conventional three-point play by Colter Fisher and another Fisher free throw gave the Bearcats a 17-13 lead.

Fisher would lead the Bearcats with 17 points. He also had six rebounds.

Acorn scored the next nine points in the game and remained in front the rest of the night. It was 24-19 at the half.

The Tigers led by 14 with 1:34 left in the third quarter but 3s by Fisher and London Lee (shown) made it 39-31 through three quarters.

Baskets by Escobedo and C.J. Johnson got the Bearcats within 39-35 with 6:26 remaining, but the Tigers scored the next seven points to go up by 11, 46-35 with 3:55 left.

Johnson, who was scoreless through three quarters, scored 12 points in the final quarter, matching Escobedo’s point total for the night. Johnson also had seven rebounds and four assists.

After a couple of free throws Acorn led by 10 with 1:14 to go but the Bearcats scored 10 points in the final minute – seven in the final 15 seconds – to get within 56-52.

The Bearcats will take the floor next in the Battle on the Border tournament in Arkoma, Okla., taking on Braggs, Okla., at 5:35 Tuesday night.