The Bel Air Lady Bobcat Basketball Team took on the C. Milton Wright Mustangs in the second round of the Girls’ Basketball State Playoffs. The game took place Tue., Mar. 4, 2014 at Bel Air High School. The Lady Bobcats came into the game having just beat Edgewood in the first round of the playoffs. Bel Air had split the season series with C. Milton 1-1, with both teams winning their home game.

The game started off with a bang as Junior Rene Tsomos hit an acrobatical layup to put the Bobcats up 2-0 with 7:17 left in the first quarter.  Senior Emily Strawbridge, not too long after, hit two free throws to put the Bobcats up 6-3 with 6:01 remaining in the quarter. Tsomos made another great layup in traffic with 3:59 reaming to put the Bobcats up 10-4, but the Mustangs’ shooting kept them in the game; they drained a three to bring them within three. The Bobcats fired back as Tsomos made a jumper to make the score 14-9 in the Bobcats favor with 2:27 left in the first.

The score entering the second quarter was 16-15 in favor of the Bobcats, but the Mustangs quickly jumped out to a 19-16 lead. The Lady Bobcats continued to battle as they made a shot to make the score 20-18 with 6:15 left in the second.  The Bobcats tied the score up with Junior Annalise Paylor’s shot, tying the game at 20.  The Mustangs went ahead again, but Freshman Megan Barnett was able to drain two free throws to tie the game up at 22. The game continued to go back and forth as Paylor tied the game up for the Bobcats with 1:49 left in the second. Then, with 1:12 left in the second, Junior Samantha Barnett was able to tie the game at 28 after hitting two free throws. The Bobcats entered the half trailing 29-28.

The Bobcats fell behind in the beginning of the third 34-31 with 6:13 remaining. The Lady ‘Cats were able to battle back as Tsomos hit a three to bring the score to 38-34. Paylor then sank two shots to tie the game at 38. The Bobcats ended the third quarter trailing 45-43.

Samantha Barnett was able to put the Bobcats ahead 47-45 with 6:50 in the fourth quarter and then, right after, hit another shot to put the Bobcats up 49-45 with 6:20 left in the quarter. The Bobcats looked to pull away when  the score was 56-48. The Mustangs continued to fight as they pulled                                                                     within 4 with 30 seconds were left, but Samantha Barnett hit two free throws at the end of the game to make the score 66-60.

The leading scorer for the Bobcats on the night was Samantha Barnett as she scored 16 points to help lead the Lady Bobcats to a great win. Annalise Paylor commented after the game, “in the heat of the moment, it’s always a huge relief. Knowing that I helped my team gives me such joy. I couldn’t have done it without the help of my teammates. Everything I do on the court and in practice is for my coaches and teammates.”  Annalise contributed 8 points to the Bobcats win.

The Lady Bobcats unfortunately lost the next game to end their season on Thu., Mar. 6, an 84-35 defeat against Aberdeen High School.