BAINBRIDGE— The Bainbridge-Guilford Bobcats boys’ basketball team hosted the Harpursville/Afton Hornets on Tuesday night in a MAC playoff game. Both teams needing wins to keep their season alive past the playoff round. B-G picked up the close 66-53 victory.

It was a back-and-forth battle, but B-G held on to the close lead throughout the contest, even with Harpursville/Afton getting within two points.

B-G’s three-point shooting was phenomenal in the first quarter, especially with Colin Dailey and Aidan Haynes going off. Dailey had three three-pointers in the first quarter and added another in the second quarter. Haynes had two three’s in the first quarter.

B-G was once up by 13 points late in the second quarter. However, turnovers and steals by Harpursville/Afton led to Jayden Deleon and Jake Rueffer adding some leverage before halftime that made it only a four-point B-G lead at the break. Liem Donahue also hit a big three before the break as well.

Both teams played aggressive defense, which led offenses to follow suit and keep it a close game.

Harpursville-Afton kept getting within two points but B-G quickly regrouped, going up by eight at the end of the third quarter.

B-G saw Layne MacDermott light up with a couple of three’s in the final eight minutes of play while Isaiah Hampton played solid defense and added some buckets within those minutes as well as Haynes continuing to play strong.

Rueffer and Deleon were able to get above B-G’s pressured defense for a couple of shots, but B-G kept answering back offensively. The Bobcats were also consistent at the free-throw line to end the fourth quarter.

Aidan Haynes led B-G with 15 points, making two three’s and going three-for-four at the free-throw line.

Isaiah Hampton also went three-for-four at the free-throw line and added 13 points with seven in the fourth quarter.

Colin Dailey hit four three’s and finished with 12 points, all in the first half.

Ethan Germond went three-for-four at the free-throw line as well and finished with nine points.

Layne MacDermott had seven points while Brayden Wehrli added six points and Mason Sherwood and Ben Porter both with two points in the win.

Jake Rueffer led all scorers with 24 points as Jayden Deleon had 20 points for the Hornets. Liem Donahue added three points while Trenton Franklyn, Cooper Warren, and Xander Quick each had two points each.

B-G heads to Sidney and Harpursville/Afton hosts Deposit-Hancock in the second round of the MAC playoffs, awaiting dates and times.