BOGUE CHITTO – Jerrica McGary scored seven points in the finalminute of play to lift the Bogue Chitto Lady Bobcats to an 83-74win over McAdams High School in the opening round of the SouthState Class 1A Girls Tournament at R. L. “Bob” Calhoun GymnasiumFriday night. The win assured the Lady Bobcats a trip to theMississippi Coliseum and a date in the 1A State Tournament.

Bogue Chitto (23-8) led 74-69 when senior forward Kristen Hattenhit a layup with 59 seconds on the clock to give the Lady Bobcats a76-69 lead. McGary followed that with two free throws with 44seconds left to increase the lead to eight.

McAdams (15-21) cut the lead to 78-72 on a 3-point shot by DebraBrown with 28 seconds on the clock, but McGary sank three freethrows and topped that with a layup with 8 seconds left to seal thewin.

“We’ve got some players who are finally coming into their own,”said Bogue Chitto head coach Mickey Myers. “I even got some qualityproduction from my bench after we got into a little foul troublewith Randi (Moak) and Yolanda (Drummond).”

The Lady Bulldogs showed early that they would make a game of itby building an 8-3 lead behind Tikeshia Brown, who finished with agame-high 29 points. Bogue Chitto then went on a 17-3 run to take a20-11 first quarter lead.

Jessica Melton scored 14 points and Marquita Ratcliff added 11to lead the Lady Bobcats in the first half. McAdams eventuallyfought back to cut the lead to 43-40 at halftime.

“We wanted this to be a fast-paced game,” said Myers. “Wethought we could wear them down, but they hung around.”

The Lady Bobcats stretched the lead to 63-56 in the thirdquarter before holding on at the end for the victory.

Melton finished with 20 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists and 3steals for Bogue Chitto. McGary and Ratcliff finished with 17points and 7 rebounds each, while Moak added 12.

Felicia Brown scored 20 points and LaSandra Malone put in 12points for McAdams.