SWINT SCORES 30, LADY BEARCATS CLINCH REGIONAL BERTH

Paris led the Lady Bearcats early Saturday night, was within five in the first quarter, within six at one point in the second quarter, and within two in the third quarter.

Each time the Lady Bearcats responded with a run to add some distance between themselves and the Lady Eagles, going on to an eventual 66-55 win to stay unbeaten in Conference 3A-4 play.

The win moves the Lady Bearcats to 15-4 overall and 11-0 in Conference 3A-4 and clinches no less that the runner-up spot in next week's district tournament along with a Class 3A Regional 1 berth. The Lady Bearcats have won 28 straight conference games.

More often than not when that was threatened Saturday, Leigh Swint was up to the task of keeping her team in front.

Swint hit a 3 to give the Lady Bearcats their first lead at 5-3. She would hit six of them, was fouled on another and had three three-point play opportunities, converting two, in a 30-point night. She also had five steals.

Swint’s second 3 of the first quarter made it 14-6 but a three-point play cut that to 14-9 before Karmen Kent had a pair of free throws and Lexi Franklin added a 3 for an 18-9 lead.

Kent started the second quarter scoring with a free throw that made it a double digit lead.

Paris cut it to 24-18 with 4:49 left in the half but a basket by Linley Garrett, a three point play from Swint, and a basket by Franklin – all in 38 seconds – pushed it to 31-18.

The Lady Eagles again it trimmed it to seven twice before halftime but after it was 33-26 3s by Franklin and Swint had it 39-26 at the break.

Paris spent the third quarter chipping away at the lead while the Lady Bearcat went cold from the floor. The home team was within 43-41 after a basket with 1:13 left in the quarter.

Swint threw in a 3 with 47 seconds left in the quarter and Franklin answered a pair of free throws with another 3 and it was 49-43 going to the final quarter.

Franklin, who scored 12, started the fourth quarter scoring with a basket to make it an eight point game and a 3 by Swint, on one of Franklin’s seven assists, had it back to a double digit lead at 54-43 with 6:39 to play.

It was no closer than eight the rest of the way.

It was 58-48 with 4:25 left but Layla Byrum hit the 10th Lady Bearcat 3 on the night on the ensuing possession.

Swint hit two free throws after being fouled on a 3 attempt and the lead was a game best 62-48 with 3:20 to go.

The Lady Bearcats are back in action tonight with a makeup game against Hackett at Bearcat Gymnasium. The game was originally scheduled for December 16, and was again postponed on January 30.