LITTLE CYPRESS — It was a cold and chilly night both outside and inside of the Bear Cave Tuesday night but the Little Cypress-Mauriceville made just enough key shots down the stretch to knock off the Kountze Lions 40-34.

Both teams struggled from the field throughout the night but the defense was exceptional as well for both sides.

Braden Bridges led the Bears with a game-high 15 points while Katon Brown filtered in 12 points to go along with eight rebounds. The two combined for nine points in the fourth quarter as the Bears were able to hold the Lions at bay.

The LC-M win offset a solid double-double from Kountze post Jaylon Wilson, who filtered in 14 points and yanked down a game-high 15 boards.

The Bears snagged a 11-6 lead at the end of the first quarter. Brown and Bridges scored four points apiece in the period and Brayden Babineaux hit a big three-point bomb right before the quarter ended to give the Bears a five-point cushion.

The Lions outpointed the Bears 9-7 in the second period to pull to within 18-15 at intermission as Wilson bulled his way inside for four points.

Kountze eventually took a 21-20 edge early in the third period after a layup by Donte Carey.

LC-M closed out the third with a 8-3 mini run as Christian Weatherly scored all four of his points in the spurt to help put the Bears up 28-24.

Bear guard Tyreke Brown, who had six points on two three-pointers, gave the Bears their largest lead of the game at 31-24 by ripping a three-pointer with 6:48 remaining.

The Lions, behind a pair of baskets by Wilson, got to within 38-35 but a huge three-pointer by Bridges put the Bears up by six at 38-32 with 2:49 left.

Kountze finished with a 34-31 rebounding edge. LC-M finished with 22 turnovers while the Lions had 18. The Bears went 4-of-9 from the free-throw line while Kountze was 3-of-4.

Tristan Rhodes had six rebounds for the Bears while Weatherly and Cole Frost had five boards apiece.

Jordan Boer had seven points for the Lions while Marcus Hafford and Daquez Arnold had four rebounds apiece.

The Bears will return to action Friday when they visit Port Arthur Memorial.