LADY BEARCATS COME UP SHORT SUNDAY

The longest winning streak in Booneville School District history came to an end Sunday afternoon when the Lady Bearcat basketball team saw a 27-game streak snapped with a 59-58 loss to Valley Springs.

The longest previous streak had been 23 games by the 2000 and 2001 football Bearcats.

The Lady Bearcats (27-1) had erased a 10-point fourth quarter deficit to take a 58-57 lead on a pair of free throws by Leigh Swint with 31 seconds to play.

Valley Springs had a shooter fouled with 3.5 seconds to go and the Lady Tigers went in front 59-58 when both free throws fell.

The Lady Bearcats maneuvered for a long 3 by Heaven Sanchez but the ball caromed off the rim as the final horn sounded.

The loss sends the Lady Bearcats into a third place game with Danville at 4 p.m. on Monday. The Lady Bearcats have beaten the Lady Little Johns three times this season, most recently in the district tournament finals.

Early on the Lady Bearcat defense was smothering the Lady Tigers, leading the way to an 18-5 lead before the opening quarter ended.

Valley Springs chipped away from that point, eventually getting within 22-20 3:06 before halftime before Swint completed a nine point quarter that pushed the Lady Bearcats out to a 31-26 lead.

Valley Springs eventually went ahead 38-36 but a basket by Sanchez tied it at 38-38 with 3:31 left in the third quarter.

The Lady Tigers then scored the next nine points before a Sanchez free throw stopped the run, but a basket with 7:45 to play had Valley Springs up 49-39.

Again it was Swint, who scored 20 despite missing part of the first quarter after aggravating an ankle injury that caused her to miss four games, along with Joleigh Tate and Sanchez fueled a comeback.

Tate finished the day with 12 points and seven rebounds and Sanchez had 14 points.

Layla Byrum also had two big free throws in the comeback effort.

The third place game with Danville will determine the Lady Bearcats tip time in the Class 3A state tournament, which Valley Springs is hosting.