GATESVILLE – The Gates County girl’s basketball team won a hard fought contest here Tuesday night.

After falling behind early in the contest, the Lady Red Barons battled hard and defeated the Lady Bruins from Camden County 52-46.

Trailing 14-6 at the end of the first quarter, the Lady Red Barons stormed back to take a 27-21 lead into halftime. Behind the tough inside scoring of forward Jalisa Bradley, who led all scorers with 22 points, the Barons took a 17-16 lead at the 3:46 mark in the second quarter on a Bradley basket.

The lead changed hands throughout the second quarter, but Gates County shooting guard Jovan Parks hit a pair of free throws to give the Barons a 21-20 lead and they never relinquished it.

The Bruins hit a bucket with 1:02 left in the game to cut the lead to 48-43, but that was as close as they we would get. Bradley hit four free throws down the stretch to keep the Barons on top for good.

The Lady Bruins came out hot, hitting four three-pointers in the first quarter and threatened to run away with the game.

Unfortunately for Camden County, the Barons picked up the defensive intensity in the second quarter and forced the Bruins to commit turnover after turnover. Another major factor in the game’s outcome was Camden County’s inability to connect on any three point shots following the first quarter.

Gates County pounded the ball inside to Bradley and Melisa Jordan, forcing the Bruins to constantly foul the determined Barons’ shooters.

&uot;We played more as a unified team,&uot; Gates County head coach Carolyn Hurdle said. &uot;We were able to get our bench involved in the game and that helped us.&uot;

Parks finished with 13 points for the Barons while Jordan added seven, Destinee’ Hurdle scored six points and Kim Umphlett had two points.