The Bowie Lady Rabbits continued their early season trend of playing schools in higher classifications and besting them as they pulled out a close win against Burkburnett at home Tuesday night.
Bowie pulled away just enough in the last 20 seconds to win 49-46.
The game got off to a slow start with the Lady Rabbits taking the early advantage, leading 7-3 halfway through the quarter. The game picked up for both sides as free throw attempts following offensive rebounds and four three-pointers pushed the Lady Bulldogs ahead by one, 17-16, heading into the second quarter.
The second quarter saw more of the same. Burkburnett was able to use their size and girth advantage in the post to gather several offensive rebounds to keep possessions alive.
Bowie was able to keep pace with many different players chipping in baskets and playing together as a team while trying to look for an advantageous pass into the post. The Lady Rabbits led by one point, 29-28, heading into halftime.
After a slow first four minutes of the third quarter, Bowie started to pull away, outhustling the Lady Bulldogs on the boards and in transition opportunities.
The lead was as much as 10 and the Lady Rabbits led 40-32 heading into the fourth quarter as their stifling defense only allowed four points to Burkburnett.
The Lady Bulldogs charged back in the fourth quarter as their two leading scorers got back to doing what they were doing in the first quarter, getting to the free throw line and knocking down three-pointers.
Burkburnett took the lead 44-43 with just a little more than three minutes to go in the game.
Bowie did not panic and tied the game with a free throw before finding Hope Howard inside, who finished the basket while also picking up the foul. While missing the free throw, it did give the Lady Rabbits a 46-44 lead with 1:29 left.
After Bowie got the stop on the other side of the court they missed an opportunity to strengthen their lead by missing free throws.
This left the door open to the Lady Bulldogs, who did not shy away from pressure free throws as they made both to tie the game up at 46-46 with 38 seconds left.
Again, the Lady Rabbits were able to find Howard, who sealed off her defender and was able to finish at the rim uncontested with 20 seconds left to put Bowie up 48-46.
The Lady Rabbits were able to secure the rebound after a Burkburnett miss and Aslyn Davis made one of two free throws with two seconds left to give Bowie the 49-46 win.

To read the full story, pick up a copy of the weekend edition of the Bowie News.