The Bushnell-Prairie City High School girls basketball team cut a 25-point deficit down to two, but host Beardstown held on for a 58-48 non-conference home victory Friday night.
The game was originally scheduled for Dec. 1, but postponed due to wintry weather.
The Tigers came prowling out of the gate in the opening half.
Camila Salazar scored eight points, including a pair of threes. All five starters contributed offensively as Beardstown built an 18-11 advantage following the opening eight minutes of play.
The second period saw the Tigers add on to its lead as Kylynn Maltby scored 10 points, including a pair of treys.
Beardstown outscored B-PC 20-7 in the quarter to build a 38-18 halftime bulge.
The Tigers biggest lead of the night came at 48-23 with 3:02 to go in the third period.
But the Spartans closed the quarter on a 9-0 run that included six points from Kendyl McCleery and a three-pointer by Jules Kreps. That pulled B-PC within 48-32 entering the final frame.
The visitors continued to creep closer as Beardstown managed just one basket by Salazar in the opening half of the quarter.
Meanwhile, B-PC rolled up 16 points, including eight by Justice Klinedinst. Her basket with 1:34 remaining brought the Spartans within 50-48.
But Beardstown responded by scoring the game’s final eight points. A basket by Andrea Flynn with 1:09 to go, her first basket since the first quarter, stopped the Spartans run.
Flynn and Salazar also stepped up to sink four free throws in the final minute, helping the Tigers hang on for the victory.
Beardstown improved to 9-3 with the victory, while B-PC slipped to 2-7.
Klinedinst topped B-PC with 12 points, 10 in the second half.
Kreps added 11 points, including three 3-pointers, while McCleery also scored 11 points, nine in the second half.
Jersey Jones scored nine points, including a pair of treys, followed by Scarlett Countryman with three and Lilly Griffitts with two.
Salazar topped Beardstown with 16 points, 12 in the opening half.
Winner Lubi added 12 points and Maltby 11 for the Tigers. Laetitia Kanda scored 10 points, while Flynn added seven and Renata Mendoza two for the hosts.
Beardstown finished 9-of-12 from the free throw line, compared to 7-of-16 for the Spartans.
B-PC was slated to return to action Monday, facing Illini West (2-7) in a Prairieland Conference South Division contest that was originally scheduled Dec. 15, but postponed by weather and road conditions.
Following Monday’s contest, the team will head to Princeville Dec. 26 to begin play in the 14th Annual Lee Westerman Princeville Girls Holiday Tournament.
The Spartans will face the host Princesses (9-3) at 10:30 a.m.
The tournament will continue Dec. 27 and conclude Dec. 29.
