Above, Cristina Hatten gets set to knock down her first of four 3-pointers in the season opening win over Tyler-Lee last week, 53-52. At left, Ashley Frost fends off pressure from a Lady Red Raider in the junior varsity game at Tyler-Lee’s, varsity gymnasium last week. The Bullard JV was on the short-end of a 63-30, loss in the game. The Lady Panthers will play at Hallsville on Friday night. Referee Shane Chambliss was all over the action. TYLER - The Bullard Lady Panthers opened up the season without any post players but it really did not matter... eventually.

The Lady Raiders (0-1) led by as many as 12-points in the first quarter, gradually watched slip to a four-point lead, before Bullard won a thrilling, 53-52 win Tuesday at the Tyler-Lee varsity gymnasium.

Samantha Phillips saved her one basket for the best time as she nailed a three-pointer to make it 51-52, with 19 seconds left.

(Staff Photos by Doc Smith) Then it was the defense of Rachel Horton for the win.

Horton stole the ball away from a Lee player in the corner off the inbounds pass, drove to the basket and made a layup as the buzzer sounded.

Lee held a 20-8 lead after the first period and 31-19 advantage at halftime.

Cristina Hatten and the crew began to make the comeback as Hatten scored all of her 17 points in the second half. The senior knocked down 5-for-7 from beyond the arc in the final two periods.

Minta Spears ball-handling opened up the offense for the Lady Panthers as her drives to the basket, and kick outside provided plenty of outside options for Bullard (1-0).

Spears also finished with 17 points, scoring ten at the free-throw line.

Bullard began the third period with a 13-0 run, but Lee still managed to hold on to a 39-27 lead with one period left to play.

The Lady Panthers then bombed away behind Hatten, and the game-winner by Horton.

In the junior varsity game, four Lady Raiders were in double-digits to take a 63- 30 win. Heather Anding led Bullard scoring

Bullard stays on the road to next face Lindale at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Eagle Gymnasium, and REL battles Winnsboro at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Winnsboro High School.

Girl’s Non-District Basketball

Bullard 53, Robert E. Lee 52
Bullard 8 11 18 16 - 53
Robert E. Lee 20 11 8 13 - 52

BULLARD - Rachel Horton 9, Ashley Phillips 2, Ally Covalt 5, Samantha Phillips 3, Minta Spears 17, Christina Hatten 17.

ROBERT E. LEE - Ciara Johnson 24, Briana Brooks 4, Michelle Anderson 2, Tiffany Watkins 2, Mercedes Mosley 5, Tasia Washington 9, La- Gloria Johnson 6. THREE POINT GOALS – BUL: Phillips, Spears, Hatten (4). LEE: None. RECORDS - Bullard 1-0, Robert E. Lee 0-1. NEXT UP - Bullard at Lindale, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. Bullard at Hallsville, Friday.

Junior Varsity

Robert E. Lee 63, Bullard 30
Bullard 3 8 10 11 - 30
Robert E. Lee 13 21 14 15 - 63

BULLARD - Ashley Frost 2, Chelsie Southerland 3, Heather Anding 14, Megan McCoy 7, Savannah Pinion 4.

ROBERT E. LEE - Chantel Jones 8, Haley Mills 5, Kaderiah Brown 2, Chassity Tennyson 11, Taylor Delley 4, Ashley Cooks 11, Cierra Davis 11, Petra Beck, 11. THREE POINT GOALS - BUL: None. LEE: Jones (2), Mills, Cooks. RECORDS - Bullard 0-1, Robert E. Lee 1-0. NEXT UP - Bullard at Mabank Tournament.