FOUR LADY BEARCATS SCORE IN DOUBLE FIGURES IN WIN OVER HACKETT

The Booneville Lady Bearcats had 12-0 and 13-0 runs during the first half and rolled to an easy 68-34 win over Hackett in the final home game of the season Monday night.

With those two dominating stretches, the Lady Bearcats (16-4, 12-0) led 39-12 at the half of the game that was finally played on its third scheduled date.

The Lady Bearcats scored the first six points of the game but Hackett stayed within striking distance until, of the final 2:15 of the quarter, the Lady Bearcats scored the 10 unanswered points then opened the second quarter scoring with a Carah Miller (shown against Paris) basket and led 23-7.

After Hackett got a pair of free throws with 6:31 to play in the first half it was 26-12, but the Lady Hornets did not score again until the third quarter.

Miller’s third basket started the stretch, Leigh Swint had three straight scores, and Linley Garrett accounted for the final five points of the half and it was 39-12.

Scoring 14 points and recording six steals, Swint led the way in her final home game for the Lady Bearcats. Garrett finished with 12 and Miller added 11 in her final home game.

After a nine point first quarter start Lexi Franklin was the fourth Lady Bearcat in double figures with 12.

The lead reached 30 for the first time midway through the third quarter after a pair of Karmen Kent baskets and another from Miller, on an assist from Layla Byrum.

Hackett cut the lead to 25 before the end of the quarter.

Ciara Smith and Angie Brown made sure it got no closer. Smith scored six fourth quarter points to finish with seven and Brown had consecutive baskets in the quarter, with the second enacting the sportsmanship rule with 5:11 left.

Owning a conference game winning streak that is now at 29, the Lady Bearcats close the regular season with back-to-back road games starting tonight in Danville. Tipoff is at 6 p.m.

Friday’s game at Cossatot River, whose only conference loss thus far came in Booneville, is likely to determine the top seed for next week's district tournament. Cossatot is at Two Rivers tonight and has to play Charleston on Saturday.