EMORY — The Bullard basketball teams did not find the friendly confines of Wildcat Gymnasium at Rains High School to their liking as both teams’ seasons ended on Tuesday night.

The 13th-ranked Lady Panthers went down 45-39 to Canton in the opener in a regional quarterfinal to finish the year 31-7.

In the finale, the battle of the Panthers went to North Lamar in the bi-district contest, 62-36, to put an end to Bullard’s year at 10-19.

Canton will play the Celina-Sanger winner on Friday at the Class 4A Region II tournament.

North Lamar will play the Brownsboro in the area round on Friday night.

 

GIRLS

The game started off about as cold as the temperatures outside before Canton finally scored four minutes into the contest.

After the slow start, the Lady Eagles did all they could to shutdown Lady Panther post Lexi Kirgan and the Bullard 3-point shooters. Kirgan still posted up for 22 points even as Canton used several players in a double-team scheme.

The 3-point shots however would not fall for Bullard, which went 2 for 13 and allowed Canton to control the boards in stretches, just enough to keep Bullard off pace for the game.

Kirgan added another double-double to her season, adding in 14 rebounds, four steals and three assists.

Canton went 7 for 17 from the 3-point arc for the big difference maker.

Madison McCaffity led the Lady Eagles with 16 points while teammate Destiny Dollgener sank three treys, adding nine points.

 

BOYS

The battle of the Panthers was a one-sided affair as North Lamar put eight players in the scorebook. North Lamar provided a full-court press that proved to be trouble for Bullard and Levi Porter led all scorers in the game with 18 for North Lamar.

“I am proud of our guys for sticking with it and rebounding from a terrible start to a season,” Bullard coach Shane Chambless said. “They stuck with some changes we needed to get into the playoffs.”

Porter, a shifty guard, nailed five 3-pointers as the team went 9 for 16 from long distance. Versache Buchanon tossed in three treys to finish with 10 points and Hunter Sartor added another 10 points for North Lamar.

Porter scored eight points in the opening period as NL took a 22-10 lead.

North Lamar kept the pedal down, racing to a 52-36 advantage at intermission.

Andrew Thomas was the lone Bullard player in double digits with 13 points while William Baker, Kirby Christopher and Ty Williams scored six points apiece.

North Lamar (28-6) was runner-up to undefeated Paris at 8-2 in District 15-4A play and advances to play Brownsboro, which beat 49-33 on Tuesday.

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Girls Region II Class 4A Regional Quarterfinal

At Rains High School

Canton 45, No. 13 Bullard 39

Canton 126 819 — 45

Bullard 10 8 138 — 39

CANTON — Madison McCaffity, 16; Destiny Dollgener, 9; Taylor Tidwell, 8; Courtney Roberts, 7; Lilly Nelson, 4.

BULLARD — Hannah Lloyd, 8; Kristen Chamberlain, 5; DeAnna Howard, 2; Maddie Slayter, 2; Lexi Kirgan, 22.

THREE-POINT GOALS — C: Dollenger (3), Tidwell (2), Roberts (2). B: Lloyd (2).

RECORDS — Canton 24-9; Bullard 31-7.

NEXT UP — Canton vs. Celina-Sanger winner, Friday in Region II Tournament semifinal.

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Boys Region II Class 4A Bi-District Basketball

at Rains High School Tiger Gymnasium, Emory, TX.

North Lamar 62, Bullard 36

North Lamar22 14 1610 — 62

Bullard 10 6 1010 — 36

NORTH LAMAR — Versache Buchanon, 10; Samaki Walker, 9; Jake Stewart, 2; Hunter Sartor, 10; Kyle Dunmom, 1; Levi Porter, 18; Tyler Anthony, 7; Jerome Gray, 5.

BULLARD — William Baker, 6; Kirby Christopher, 6; Chris Williams, 6; Andrew Thomas, 13; Blake Story, 2; Major Tennison, 3.

THREE-POINT GOALS — NL: Porter (5), Buchanon (3), Anthony (2), Walker. B: Baker (2), Thomas, Christopher.

RECORDS — North Lamar 28-6; Bullard 10-19.

NEXT UP — North Lamar vs. Brownsboro, TBD Friday.