The Bowie Lady Rabbits had a disappointing senior night on Friday against Jacksboro.
The Lady Tigers won 40-28 against the Lady Rabbits.
Bowie entered the game hoping to get its first district win. Jacksboro was fighting for the final playoff spot, but the Lady Rabbits had played the Lady Tigers close in the first game, only losing 37-35.
Bowie also had something new this time around. Leading scorer Ziba Robbins took the floor for her first in-game action since before district play back in early December. Robbins has been out since then with a leg injury.
The team’s biggest weakness has been its inability to score at a consistent level. With Robbins back and with the team playing Jacksboro well in the first game, there was hope it would all work out for a victory in front of the home crowd.
The first quarter was close and competitive. With Robbins obviously not at full strength after so much time off, she was moved off the ball and her minutes were limited as she was not expected to carry the heavy offensive load in her first game back.
Still, she shot a pass down low for Kayleigh Crow for an uncontested layup. Emily Cueva made a 3-pointer and scored five points and Maycie Metzler got to the free throw line.
The offense was flowing midway through the first quarter like it rarely has in the last month.
Defensively, Bowie knew what to expect. Jacksboro was powered by a skilled post player Hayden Walker and guard Kylie Tullous.
Coach Matthew Miller found what worked last game and kept it to start the game, denying and shadowing both players while his other three players played a triangle zone.
While it was tough to fluently run offense, the Lady Tigers still found ways to get it to Walker in the mid-post area and she started her parade to the free throw line early and it did not stop all game.
Jacksboro led 10-9 heading into the second quarter.
Bowie’s offense hit a snag in the middle quarters. While the Lady Rabbits defense did well enough in the second quarter to keep the game close, trailing only 18-14, it did not last in the second half.
The only thing Jacksboro had going for it offensively in the first half was Walker getting to the free throw line. She got there 18 times in the first half alone, though she was not making them at a good percentage it was still frustrating for Bowie.
The Lady Tigers diversified their offense in the third quarter, making their only 3-pointers in quick succession and had five different players score at least one basket.
With the Lady Rabbits offense still going through a drought of scoring five points in the third quarter, Jacksboro got out to a double-digit lead 34-19 heading into the fourth quarter of the game.
Bowie’s offense picked up a bit in the final period. Robbins scored five of her eight points and the team scored nine points like it did in the first quarter.
It was not enough even if the Lady Rabbits had prevented the Lady Tigers from scoring. Jacksboro’s offense slowed down in pace to prevent Bowie the chances to try and come back.
The Lady Tigers won 40-28.

To read the full story, pick up a copy of the mid-week edition of the Bowie News.