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ARP — The Brownsboro Bearettes came out strong defensively, and defeated the Spring Hill Lady Panthers 49-34 on Monday in a Class 4A Division II girls basketball bi-district playoff game at John Mills Parker Gymnasium.

Brownsboro (21-11) advances to the area round to play either Farmersville or North Lamar later this week.

The Lady Panthers end their season at 22-12.

“We got after it defensively in the first quarter, and maintained that cushion for the rest of the game,” Bearettes Coach Jeremy Durham said. “Really proud of all 10 girls that played, with their intensity. We all wanted to play some more games.”

The first quarter ended 18-4 in favor of Brownsboro because the Bearettes used a smothering defense to cause multiple turnovers. The Bearettes also passed the ball extremely well.

Tiykeah McKenzie and Chyann Stidham led the scoring, but each Brownsboro player contributed. In the second quarter the Lady Panthers started playing much better, led by Elizabeth Corbitt’s 10 points. The Bearettes still out scored Spring Hill 13-10, to take a 31-14 halftime lead.

After halftime, the Lady Panthers used a 1-3-1 trapping defense, along with tight man to man, to make the game competitive. However, the Bearettes used Brandie Cooper, Sadie Piper, Riley Smith, and the whole team to make a comeback a non-issue. Both teams played pretty even after the first quarter. On a side note, the Brownsboro cheerleaders and fans came out loud and strong.

McKenzie led the Bearettes with 21 points while Stidham added 15. Also scoring for Brownsboro were Piper (7), Cooper (3), Smith (2) and Sarah Hughes (1).

Piper and Cooper each hit 3-pointers.

Elizabeth Corbitt led Spring Hill with 15 points, followed by Za’Riah Turner (6), Savannah Irwin (5), Callie Secord (2), Kaylee Londeau (2), Marlen Hernandez (2) and Ava Burnette (2).

Turner had two 3-pointers with one by Irwin.