The Bowling Green Lady Bucs opened postseason play last week in the MAIS Class 5A South State Tournament. The 8-team tournament was held at Oak Forest Academy in Amite, Louisiana.
The #3 seed Lady Bucs began tournament action against the Cathedral Catholic Green Wave from Natchez, Mississippi. Bowling Green held a slim 7-6 lead after the first quarter. An 11-9 advantage in the second put the Lady Bucs ahead 18-15 at the half. Behind a strong defensive effort to start the second half, the Lady Bucs outscored the Green Wave 9-1 In the third quarter. Bowling Green captured the fourth by a 14-10 margin to finish with a 41-26 win.
Bailey Devall led with 14 points and added 9 rebounds, Claire Wascom scored 12 points with 5 rebounds and 4 steals while Chloe Bertrand had 7 points and 4 rebounds. Claire Varnado added 4 points and 3 steals with Lydia Tullos (5 rebounds) and Berkley Goings (3 rebounds) each finishing with 2 points.
In semifinal action on Friday, the Lady Bucs faced the district champs and #1 seed Cougars from Brookhaven Academy. Bowling Green lost 2 nine point games to the Cougars to finish regular season play. Each team scored 6 points in the opening quarter. The Cougars gained a slim 6-4 second-quarter advantage to lead 12-10 at the half. Bowling Green held the Cougars to 2 points in the third while scoring 5 and clinging to a 15-14 lead heading to the final period of play. With a 22-21 lead, Brookhaven put the Lady Bucs on the foul line where they converted 7 of 10 down the stretch to put the game on ice. Bowling Green finished with a 31-24 win to move to Saturday's final while sending the district champs to the consolation game.
Chloe Bertrand led with 13 points, 6 rebounds and 3 steals and Bailey Devall scored 12 to go with 6 rebounds and 3 steals. Claire Wascom added 5 points, 7 rebounds and 4 steals with Claire Varnado finishing with 1 point and 3 rebounds.
Saturday the Lady Bucs faced #2 seed Parklane Academy Pioneers for the South State tournament championship. The two teams had split their regular season district contests. Parklane got off to a fast start and doubled up the Lady Bucs 16-8 after one quarter. The Pioneers continued their torrid shooting in the second and led 31-18 at the half. The Lady Bucs quickly cut the lead to single digits to start the third before finishing with a 7-6 third-quarter advantage. Bowling Green would cut the Pioneers lead to 8 in the fourth but couldn't overcome the first half deficit. Both teams scored 19 second half points as Parklane claimed the championship with a 50-37 win.
Bailey Devall led with 14 points and Berkley Goings scored 9. Claire Wascom, Chloe Bertrand and Claire Varnado added 4 points each while Reece King finished with 2. Devall, Wascom and Bertrand were named to the All-Tournament team.
The Lady Bucs advance to the MAIS Class 5A State Championship tournament held at Copiah Academy in Gallman, Mississippi. Bowling Green enters as the #2 seed from the south and begins tournament play against the Bayou Academy Colts from Cleveland, Mississippi, the #3 seed from the north. Tip-off is set for Wednesday at 4 PM.
Claire Wascom drives for the basket in the Brookhaven game.
PHOTO BY COURTNEY SCHILLING
