Mount de Sales neutralized Bulloch Academy’s inside game and matched speed with speed as the Lady Cavaliers posted a 40-30 victory over the Lady Gators Tuesday night.

            The second-ranked Cavs and the fifth-ranked Gator girls battled tooth-and-nail in the fast-paced contest. MDS shut down BA leading scorer Anna Newton, holding her to just eight points, and kept sophomore speedster Ashley Burke under wraps.

            In the boys’ game, the battle raged just as fierce as the Gators came back time after time, getting just within reach before the visitors finally pulled away with a 47-41 victory.

            In the opener, good man defenses, tight backcourt traps and excellent guard play highlighted a quick and clean first quarter. The Lady Cavs (17-2) took an early 10-6 lead.

            Newton and sophomore forward Pate Lomax worked hard against Courtney Gilbert, Claire Price and Chelsea Veal but the trio from Macon controlled the Statesboro duo. Meanwhile, MDS ballhandler Dana Rose was Burke’s shadow, keeping the BA playmaker from running wild. Burke had just four points on the night and Lomax had four as well. Mount de Sales took a 16-10 lead into the locker room.

            MDS jumped out to a 21-10 lead early in the third but senior Lauren Dennard popped a three to settle the Lady Cavs down. Dennard scored eight on the night. At the buzzer, Bulloch was down by nine, 28-19.

            The Lady Gators (16-3) redoubled their efforts in t47he fourth. It paid off as Bulloch cut the lead to six on Dennard’s trey and then to four (30-26) with 5:38 remaining when Mary Margaret Reeves found a wide open Lomax under the basket.

            But MDS burned the clock and outscored BA 10-4 for the win.

            The finale was a rematch of last year’s state playoff game that went an incredible five overtimes. It looked as if it might be headed that way again.

            The frantic pace was incredible considering the Gators were coming off an intense battle with Bethesda the night before.

            But Bulloch (9-7) would not back down from the quick Cavalier squad. Seniors Forrest Spence and Themba Twala led the Gators in the fight. The smooth German forward and the quick Middleground guard seemed to surprise the Cavs, keeping the pressure up and allowing just an 8-7 MDS lead by the end of the first quarter. Spence led all scorers with 12 points and Twala had 10.

            In the second, Cavalier turnovers and good Gator defense helped Bulloch stay close. A Twala bucket with 5:54 cut the lead to one again, 13-12. But MDS battled back and took a 23-19 lead at intermission.

            Bailey Smith’s bucket cut the lead to two, 23-21, early in the third. But the Cavs (13-4) took advantage of a few miscues and went on an 11-6 run for a 34-27 lead late. Two more turnovers and Mount de Sales had a 37-27 lead by the buzzer.

            In the fourth, Twala suffered a dislocated shoulder at the 6:32 mark and left the game. But Bulloch didn’t falter and fought harder as the Cavs seemed to tire by missing crucial free throws.

 Smith Reeves’ three-pointer with 3:03 cut the lead to four, 41-36. Spence’s two free throws with 2:07 cut the lead to three, 42-39. His bucket with 42.9 left kept Bulloch within reach at 44-41. But MDS put the game away on the charity stripe.

In the B-team girls’ game, Bulloch pounded the Lady Cavs 51-34. Mikay Sands had 13 points and Mimi Rosenberger added 11.

Bulloch is back in action Friday, hosting Region 4-AAA foe Augusta Preparatory School.