The Bogue Chitto Bobcats didn’t play like a team making their first appearance in recent memory at the Mississippi Coliseum AKA The Big House during the first half of their MHSAA 2A semifinal matchup with the Northside Gators on Tuesday.

Coach Marc Howard’s team led 20-19 at halftime, but the Gators from Shelby went on a run to start the third quarter that decided the game.

A 3-pointer by Lamont White of Northside at the third quarter buzzer gave the Gators a 41-29 lead in what would eventually be a 57-40 win for the team from Boliver County.

BC led 13-12 after the first quarter as the teams settled in by trading baskets early. In the pivotal third quarter, Northside outscored Bogue Chitto 22-9.

Northside (19-12) moves on to face their region rivals from Coahoma County (29-2) in the 2A championship on Friday. It’s the fifth time in the last seven years for Coahoma County Red Panthers to make the 2A finals.

The Bobcats (22-6) finished 0-of-15 from the 3-point line and 16-of-51 from the floor overall.

Sophomore point guard Devonta Thompson scored 17 points for Bogue Chitto in the loss. Freshman forward Randy Crisler scored five points and senior Cameron Williams added five points as well. Sophomore wing Noah Magee scored six points for BC. Senior Jay May scored four points and junior guard Shomari Jenkins rounded out the Bobcat scoring with two points.

Northside had three players in double figures, led by Jordan McKnight with 19 points. White scored 15 points and Tyshun Appleton added 11 points for the Gators. Northside has two Copiah-Lincoln football signees on its roster in seniors Ricardo Butler Jr. and LaKentrick James.

The Gators went 2-of-10 from the 3-point line and 20-of-48 from the floor.

A program with tons of tradition in the 1A ranks of MHSAA play, this was the deepest trek into the playoffs for a Bogue Chitto team since the Bobcats moved up to 2A.

Roberts was the lone senior starter. Howard will also lose May, one of the first forwards off the bench, to graduation. Elijah Collins is the only other senior on the roster as Bogue Chitto will look to contend again in 2A next season.

Bogue Chitto started the playoffs with a 60-52 win over Lake at home. They then went on the road and snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, beating Velma Jackson 85-73 in overtime.

Last Friday, the Bobcats played the late, late game in the quarterfinals at Clinton High and defeated Kemper County High 45-34.