The Bulloch Academy girl’s basketball team opened the 2017-18 season Tuesday in the Lady Gator Classic, unfortunately it wasn’t the kind of start first year head coach Hal WIlson was looking for as the Gators fell to the visiting Savannah Christian Red Raiders 53-48.

    “I was happy with a lot of things we did,”  said Wilson,  “It was a close game and it comes down to execution and toughness, things I think we can work on.”

    The game went back and forth with nine lead changes.  The Gators held a 12-8 lead after one quarter of play but saw the Red Raiders come back to take a 24-21 halftime lead.  In the second half the see saw battle continued with the Gators taking their last lead of the contest 42-41 on an Abby Newton three pointer.  Newton hit two free throws with 2:39 left to cut the lead to one but outscored BA 7-3 the rest of the way for the victory.

    “It was a good start, a lot of girls got a chance to play tonight,”  said Wilson,  “They fought till the last second so I feel we have a lot to build on.”

    Early season rust resulted in quite a few Gator turnovers.  Savannah Christian easily beat the Gators on the glass and held a large free throw shooting advantage of 26 to 12.  There were also some bright spots particularly the play of sophomore Abby Newton who led the way for the Gators with a team high 17 and eighth grader Kacey Ricketts, who added 10 points.

    “We absolutely got killed on the boards, and if we don’t fix that it could be a long year, but I feel like we can,”  said Wilson, “ I have faith in the girls because they’ve shown toughness, and I know we are going to come out better than they were tonight”

    Up next for the Lady Gators is game two of the Lady Gator Classic tonight at 7 p.m. as they host Augusta Prep.