Michael C. Guilmette Jr.
Sports Reporter
PICKFORD — Pickford proved to be no match for the Bays Girls Basketball team last Friday night, downing the Panthers 50-42 in Pickford's gym.
“We ran our offense,” Coach Ray Bell said. “It's amazing how well a game goes when you take it to the other team.”
The game looked to be very evenly matched, since the two teams finished the first period tied 8-8. This trend continued in the second period as well, with the Bays only managing a slim 17-16 lead over Pickford.
After the half, however,the situation became somewhat more tenuous, as the Panthers soon took a 25-21 lead over the Bays. Brimley began to show signs of hope, though, when a pair of baskets by Stephanie Freedman and Candice Leapley tied the game up at 25-25. Two more points by Freedman put the Bays on top. Brimley finished the third period with a 28-26 lead.
It only took Jessica Singleton ten seconds to score in the final period, leading the way for the Bays to take charge of the game. The play was still close between the teams, but Brimley went on to score 22 points to the Panthers' 16, sealing the win.
Scoring for the game was led by Leapley with 12 points, followed closely by Singleton, who made a strong showing with 11 points. Freedman herself added 10 while Molly McIntyre was credited with 9 points.
“We settled down and played, and we played really well,” Bell said, pleased with the results.
The win was a welcome follow-up to the Bays' 38-30 loss to Rudyard on Nov. 11, a game that could have gone either way until the last two minutes of the game.
“Of our 11 losses, over half of them were that close.” Bell said. The Bays finished regular play with a 9-11 record.
