By Ronnie Hughes

Leader Correspondent

BRIDGE CITY — District 24-4A girls basketball got off to a hot start with the Orangefield Lady Bobcats traveling across the bayou to face off against the Bridge City Lady Cardinals.

In what would be a bitter sweet match-up with Lady Cats’ head coach, Jennifer Willis, going up against her former team, the game featured big plays and high emotions.

“I love those kids and coached them for three years,” said Willis “They work hard and are a great group of girls.”

The Lady Cats’ jumped out early and never let off the gas. Sabryn Crain notched the first bucket of the night when she put back a missed shot by Paris Fregia. Orangefield went on a 5-0 run and held Bridge City scoreless until the 5:23 mark in the first quarter. The Lady Cards missed their first six opportunities and quickly accumulated three team fouls. They’d trail after the first, 7-4, after shooting 1-12 from the field.

Bethany Green excited the Orangefield crowd after Kaylyn Nelson hit her on the move for a nice drive in lay-up to extend the Lady Cats’ run into the second quarter. Orangefield went on a 9-0 run including a long-range three by Fregia before the Lady Cards’ called a timeout to regroup. Bridge City would go on a short lived run following the timeout with help from Bailee Bacon who stepped up the pressure and hit a shot just inside the three-point line to end the scoring drought. Hanna Lowe finished off an 8-0 run by the Lady Cats’ with a rebound that she took the distance for an easy basket as time expired. Orangefield led, 24-11, at the half with Green leading all scorers with 10 points and 4 rebounds.

Bridge City regrouped and came out on fire in the second half. Bacon helped ignite a 10-2 run with her two steals that led to four points. The Lady Cats’ had four turnovers and was held scoreless the first six minutes of the third quarter. Kassidy Wilbur had two blocks including one in which she ran down Emmie Lummus to stop a fast break lay-up. Rebekah Newell ended the Lady Cats’ drought when she quieted the crowd with a huge pull up jumper right in the face of Bacon. The Orangefield lead was cut to 26-21 to open the fourth quarter. Bacon had six points and six steals on the night.

After a tight-knit third quarter the Lady Cats’ would get back to work. Lummus drove the lane on the opening possession to start the scoring which ignited a 6-0 Orangefield run and a commanding 30-21 lead with under five minute to play. Bridge City fell victim to yet another shooting slump in the fourth not being able to muster a basket until the one minute mark. Green hit a three pointer from the top of the key to put the game out of reach, 33-21, with the Lady Cats’ outscoring the Lady Cards’ 11-4 in the fourth quarter to secure the 37-25 victory. Crain led both teams on the night with ten rebounds while Green and Nelson contributed seven boards a piece.

“We lost to a very well coached team,” said Lady Cards’ head coach Deon Duncan “We have to shoot better and take baby steps to improve on our game”