Frank Speziale Photo

SYRACUSE — In a tennis match like game, the Atoms of Syracuse Academy of Science (SAS) took a small 8-0 run late in the fourth. As the Bobcats have done all season long when trailing, Bainbridge-Guilford answered with an 8-0 run of their own.

With under two minutes left, the Atoms’ pulled in an offensive rebound and finished the basket to give SAS the lead for good. Taking a few trips to the free-throw line to seal the deal, the Atoms moved onto the New York state final four with a final score of 62-57 over the Bobcats in the Class C Regional final game.

SAS, with their height advantage over B-G took the opening tip and scored immediately. The basket came from Lyrick Jackson, the Atoms’ leading scorer. Their six-foot forward Erykah Pasha added a 15-footer and SAS held a 4-0 lead.

The Bobcats quickly answered with the one-two punch of Abi and Erica Selfridge. Abi finished at the rim and Erica knocked down her shot from beyond the three-point arc, giving the lead back to Bainbridge-Guilford.

This is how the contest went as each basket was more exciting than the last.

The Atoms used a 10-1 mid way through the first quarter, jumping out a 14-6 score.

Back came the Bobcats. Megan Palmatier and Abi Selfridge both finished inside the paint to cut into the lead and drop it to four.

However, SAS ended the quarter with another run, this one 7-2 and the Atoms took a 21-15 lead into the second quarter.

Again, Bainbridge-Guilford answered the call, outscoring SAS 16-9 in the second quarter. All five Bobcats on the floor were scoring and rebounding as they controlled both the offensive and defensive glass.

The Bobcats went into the half with one point lead following two made foul shots by Abi Selfridge.

Coming out of the intermission, Jackson tied the score at 31-31 and the rest of the quarter was even. With both teams scoring 14 in the eight minute stanza, Bainbridge-Guilford held onto their one point lead heading into the final quarter of play.