BASKETBALL TEAMS REACH MIDPOINT OF CONFERENCE PLAY

The Bearcats and Lady Bearcats reached the midpoint of the conference season Tuesday night.

The teams returned to Bearat Gym after a lengthy stretch of road games Tuesday night but were unable to take advantage of being at home, suffering losses 38-31 (girls) and 57-47 (boys) to Hackett.

The Lady Bearcats scored the first eight points of the game and led the entire first half.

Unfortunately, Hackett took the lead on the first possession of the second half and kept it most of the rest of the way.

Lexi Franklin scored the first four points of the game in a span of 19 seconds and after a pair of Baylee Parnell free throws and a turnover, Hackett took a time out.

Franklin, who would lead the Lady Bearcats with 12 points, scored again and it was 8-0 just 2:19 into the game.

Hackett got back within three later in the first quarter before Angie Brown got a basket that made it 13-8 after one quarter.

Hackett trimmed the deficit to two before a pair of Franklin free throws with 4:44 to play in the first half and it stayed that way until a Ciara Smith basket made it 17-11 almost three minutes later.

Hackett scored the final five points of the half and was within 17-16 at the intermission.

A 3 – the first of the game – gave Hackett the lead just 10 seconds into the second half.

Tempi Terry got one free throw to cut it to one and the Lady Bearcats , after another Hackett 3 got a basket from Franklin and a 3 from Linley Garrett to go back in front, 23-22.

Hackett’s third 3 of the quarter swung the advantage back to the visitors before a score by Brown tied it at 25.

Hackett scored on its next possession and would not trail again, though it was a narrow 29-27 lead going to the final quarter.

Hackett scored the first six points of the final quarter to open its biggest lead at 35-27 with 3:26 to play.

Baskets by Brown and Garett got it back to four with 2:22 to play but the Lady Bearcats would not score again.

Boys

Hackett opened the scoring with a 3 and never trailed.

The Bearcats would tie it at 4 on a basket by Dax Goff, tie it again at 6 on one by Colter Fisher, and again at 8 on two Fisher free throws but Hackett ran off eight straight and led 16-8 with 7:19 t play in the first half.

A 3 by Fisher – he would score 22 for the Bearcats – and points form Goff, Noah Harrel and Cody Sum go the Bearcats back within 18-16 with 3:39 to go in the half.

Hackett ran the lead back to six before a 3 by Nate Smith, who finished with nine, with 1:06 remaining in the half made it 25-22 but a Hornet 3 and a pair of free throws in the final 32 seconds of the half made it 30-22 at the break.

Hackett was up by 10 with 5:14 left in the third quarter but the Bearcats worked it back to 39-35 points game with a 7-1 run that included a conventional three point play by Fisher.

Goff, who scored seven, and Fisher scored baskets that cut it to four again early in the final quarter but the Bearcats were never able to get enough stops and trailed by at least six the rest of the way.

The Bearcats and Lady Bearcats will next play on Friday against Charleston and will get a rematch at Hackett next Wednesday which will start a stretch of games on three straight nights.