Despite having an early lead and coming back in the fourth period, the Andalusia High School Lady Bulldogs lost to Georgiana High School 49-44 in the third place match up of the 21st Annual Red Level High School Christmas Tournament, Saturday night.

The Lady Dogs took a quick lead in the first quarter 11-3 with Shalisa Thomas, Daniah Lawson, Ty’Eshia Reed and Eryanna Sheridan getting baskets.

Georgiana chipped away at the lead late in the first period to make the score 15-10 at the end of the first period.

Georgiana started off the second period by taking the lead with 5:39 left in the quarter after two baskets making the score 17-15.

The Lady Panthers continued to put pressure on the Lady Dogs going up 24-17 with 1:22 left in the second period.

D’Andrea Crittenden and Thomas helped cut down the Georgiana lead after a foul and a steal from Thomas to make the score 24-20 at the end of the half.

Georgiana started off the second half with a pair of free throws and an and-one to go up 32-20 with 6:24 left in the third period.

The Lady Dogs tried to fight back scoring nine points in the third period, but the Lady Panthers managed to go up 42-29 at the end of the third period.

Andalusia found their rhythm again in the fourth period and managed to come back.

Thomas and Sheridan lead the Lady Dogs comeback in the fourth period with several steals and lay ups.

Thomas was fouled late in the fourth and sank both free throws to cut the Georgiana lead to 44-42.

Lawson’s jump shot was the last point effort from the Lady Dogs before a Georgiana player was fouled and she sank both of the free throws to end the game 49-44.

Thomas led the Lady Dogs in points with 12, and was named to the all tournament team.

“I really feel like our girls rose to the challenge,” Head coach Harrison Mims said. “The easiest thing to do would be to give up at halftime or give up when things got tough, but they had some resilience and I’m proud of them.”

Mims said that this game won’t affect the goals that they set out to achieve.

“In the grand scheme of things, this game won’t affect the goals that we are trying to achieve,” Mims said. “I’m proud of my girls and I have nothing bad to say to them. We are going to use this game for teaching points. I will show them some things that we could have done better fundamentally and just move forward from this.”