BARNESVILLE — When a team is trailing by 15 points with a hair over six minutes remaining, usually that means a game is pretty much over. Such was not the case Monday evening as the host Shamrocks put together a furious rally to come back against visiting Bridgeport before Jaren Tucker sank a pair of free throws with 2.8 seconds remaining to salt away a 51-46 victory for the Bulldogs.

“Barnesville was selling out so hard on the press and it wasn’t a conventional press. It was like they didn’t care if they fouled because we missed probably six or seven foul shots in a stretch, and once the wheels started getting wobbly, they (Barnesville) started getting more confidence and more confidence, and they were able to make a few shots,” Bridgeport coach Greg Harkness surmised of the comeback bid by Barnesville. “Then they were able to get back into the press. I was trying to help us out as best as I could, but you only get so many timeouts. I didn’t want to just keep burning them because I knew I was going to need one later in the game.

“Give Barnesville credit, they battled to the end and Jamie (Carpenter) does a great job with them and they always play hard. I’m just proud of my girls because we fell down two different times there and were able to do enough to come back and get a win. A lot of times for a two-win team that doesn’t happen. You kind of figure here we go again, fold the tents up and take the loss, but I give the girls credit because they kept battling.”

“I was telling them ‘you can’t wait until five minutes left in the game to pick it up’ and credit to Bridgeport. They played great 2-3 matchup zone and we couldn’t get a flow going. Once we finally got some movement shots started to fall in the last five minutes because we were actually moving,” Barnesville coach Jamie Carpenter said of the team’s early offensive struggles and comeback. “The first three quarters we were just stagnant, just stood around and passed the ball and didn’t cut. Once the pace picked up a little bit we got some shots to fall, and I tried to tell them that and they can’t wait that long.

Both teams struggled mightily in the first quarter, as Bridgeport (3-16) didn’t get a field goal until Briana Conaway got an inside shot to drop at the 3:09 mark of the first.

Things were not going much better for the Lady Shamrocks (6-12) as Sydney Leach was the lone member of the hosts to dent the scoreboard in the opening eight minutes. After one, the visitors held a slim 9-7 lead.

Bridgeport found its shooting touch in the second, getting a pair of threes from Tucker, as well as one from Angela Sommer and four points from Meleah Tiber, who was making her first varsity start after being pressed into action. A pair of buckets from Mallory Conner helped the hosts tread water with the Bulldogs leading 23-16 at the half.

Barnesville’s offensive woes continued in the third, as Conner was able to net seven points, but she was the only player to score for the Green-and-Red. On the other side, Conaway and Sommer combined for 10 points in the frame, helping stake the Lady Bulldogs to a 36-23 advantage heading intot he final quarter.

Bridgeport opened the fourth on a 5-3 run, holding a seemingly insurmountable lead of 41-25 following a three-pointer by Tucker with 6:16 remaining in the game. It was here that Barnesville made their move. Over the next six-plus minutes, the hosts caused nine turnovers for the Lady Dogs and held the visitors without a field goal for the remainder of the game. The visitors also missed a number of free throws, even committing a lane violation on the second shot of their first double-bonus.

In the meantime, Rylee Stephens, who had been shut out until the fourth, and her teammates were putting on a clinic combining for four three-pointers during the comeback attempt. Senior Anastasia Carpenter nailed a three with 1:25 left and Stephens’ three at the 1:09 mark put the ‘Rocks up. Unfortunately for the hosts, that was the last point they scored.

Four free throws by Tucker in the final 1:02, as well as a make each from the charity stripe by Sommer and Tiber sealed the deal, sending Bridgeport home with a cherished win.

“Tucker hit big foul shots at the end and Tiber did a lot of good things in her first start. Overall, this was a total team win,” Harkness noted.

Tucker led the way with 18 for Bridgeport, including a six-for-six effort from the line in the fourth. Conaway added nine points and eight boards, while Sommer scored nine as well. Tiber finished with seven. Barnesville was led by Conner, who scored 14. Stephens finished with a double-double, scoring 12 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. The Lady ‘Rocks held a 28-26 advantage on the glass, while turning the ball over 17 times to 21 miscues for Bridgeport.

The Bulldogs return to action at St. John Central Thursday, while on that same evening Barnesville will host Caldwell for Senior Night.