Bowling Green got off to tough starts at the beginning of both halves of an 80-69 loss to Simpson Academy at home Friday.
The Lady Bucs were outscored 22-7 over the first 6:32 of the first half and 14-2 during the first 2:54 of the second half.
“I told the girls coming out, we’ve got to set the tone early,” Bowling Green coach Barry Seal said. “We didn’t. We dug us a hole. I had to use three timeouts in the first half, which I never try to do, just to get us back. We cut it to single digits, had a chance to take it to three or four and we even discussed that. I think we were down seven at half (40-33).
“Coming out, talked about the first three minutes of the second half, how important it is, and for some reason, we can’t grab ahold of the physicality of another team and match it up. We dig a hole and have to dig back out.”
After getting down 22-7 with 1:28 to go in the first quarter, the Lady Bucs trimmed the lead to 25-15 through the first.
Simpson maintained the 10-point lead and were up 32-22 with 3:40 left in the first half when the Lady Bucs went on a 9-2 run.
KaKa Seal began the run with a 3-pointer at the 3:18 mark. Simpson’s Morgan Griffith hit a runner and then Bowling Green posted six in a row. Bailey Duval made a layup with 2:26 left. Callie Seal drove to the bucket for two and Allie McCain hit both ends of a 1-and-1 and Bowling Green was trailing by just three, at 34-31 with 1:04 to go. Simpson expanded the lead to 40-33 at halftime.
Like the first half, Bowling Green struggled at the start of the second half, as Simpson began with a 14-2 run.
Griffith hit a shot and fouled on the opening possession. She missed the free throw, but TK Catchings grabbed the rebound and made the put back. Anna Claire Walker made a field goal to make it 46-33 with 6:57 left. Callie Seal hit a layup. Catchings converted a 3-point play and Ellie Hilton was good on a 3-pointer. Simpson had a 52-35 lead with 5:06 left.
After the run, the Lady Bucs got only as close as seven at 74-67 with 2:18 left in the fourth quarter in the 80-69 final.
Callie Seal led the Bucs in points with 25. She went 10-of-20 from the field. Seal had three rebounds, an assist, two steals and she blocked a shot. Seal made a pair of 3-pointers.
Bailey Duvall recorded 12 points on 5-of-10 in field goals and she made both of her free throws. Duvall dished out two assists and made two steals.
KaKa Seal recorded 10 points and three assists. Seal was good on a pair of 3-pointers.
Kyley Seals tallied nine points, four assists and she made five steals. She was successful on all three of her three free-throw attempts.
Bridget Devall posted six points, one rebound, three steals, an assist and she blocked a shot.
McCain had four points, two boards and a steal.
Hope Crowe put up three points and a rebound for the Lady Bucs. Crowe made a 3-pointer.
Bowling Green hit 50 percent of its field goals (26-of-52), 45.5 percent from beyond the arc (5-of-11) and 85.7 percent in free-throw attempts (12-of-14).
Catchings scored a game-high 30 points for Simpson.
Griffith posted 21 points.
Alissa Brewer had 11 points and made two 3-pointers.
Maddie Moody posted six points while Walker posted four, Adeline Bond tallied three points and Mollie Jones added one. Moody made two 3-pointers.
Bowling Green bounced back Saturday with a 45-44 victory over three-time Class AAAA-Division II champion East Rankin Academy at home.
Kyley Seals put Bowling Green up 45-44 with a 2-pointer. East Rankin missed a last-second shot.
Duvall recorded a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Duvall hit four of her seven field goals, dished out two assists and made a pair of steals. She made a 3-pointer.
Callie Seal had 10 points, five boards and two steals. Seal made two 3-pointers.
Seals tallied six points, seven rebounds, four assists and four steals.
Devall posted six points, eight boards and a steal.
Crowe had five points, two boards and a steal.
McCain tallied four points, an assist and two steals.
KaKa Seal added two points, a rebound and an assist.