HUNTSVILLE —Third-ranked Madisonville was too much to handle for the Bullard Lady Panthers, as the Lady Mustangs eliminated Bullard in the regional finals game, 64-37, at Johnson Coliseum, on the Sam Houston State University campus.

“Madisonville is a great team, and we just could not get the ball to fall for us early in the game,” Bullard coach, Greg Gay said. “They just outplayed us today.

“But we had a great year and we went the farthest a Bullard team has gone since they went to five-man ball in girl’s play. So, hopefully, we learned a lot from the experience. Gay added, “we are a young team, and I can’t say enough about how proud I am of the girls and their efforts this season.”

Tournament MVP, Lisa Nealey scored 12 of her game-high 22 points in the opening half, as Madisonville led by 17-7 after one quarter.

The Lady Mustangs (24-3) shot out to a 13-3 lead with 1:41 left in opening stanza, as Brittany Smith scored two of her 15 points in the game.

Adrianna Gilbert landed one of two 3-pointers, to build more Madisonville momentum before halftime, and her Lady Mustangs took the 31-17 halftime lead.

Gilbert also ended the third quarter in the same fashion, for a 45-27 Madisonville cushion, going in to the final eight-minutes of the year for the Bullard crew.

Bullard’s Minta Spears, who was the lone Lady Panther named to the all-tournament team, came on late after the damage was done, with 17 points and two late 3-pointers.

Ashley Ricci and Samantha Phillips scored seven points each, for Bullard.

Madisonville’s Brittany Smith (all-tourney) and Chasity Young, added 15 and 14 points.

No. 3 Madisonville (26-3) advances to the state tournament in Austin, where the Lady Mustangs will play at 2 or 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, at the Frank Erwin Center on the campus of the University of Texas.

No. 12 Lady Panthers end their record-setting season, setting a new standard with a 30-9 mark, undefeated district ledger and regional tourney appearance.

BULLARD – Ashley Ricci, 7; Heather Camp, 2; Samantha Phillips, 7; Minta Spears, 17; Christina Hatten, 2; Kayla Welling, 2.

MADISONVILLE – Lisa Nealey, 22; Adrianna Gilbert, 6; Unique Johnson, 1; Brittany Smith, 15; April Curtis, 4; Chasity Young, 14; Kayla Cooper, 2.

THREE POINT GOALS – B: Spears (2), Phillips. M: Gilbert (2), Smith. RECORDS – Bullard 30-9. Madisonville 26-3. NEXT UP – Bullard season over, Madisonville advances to UIL State Tournament, Thurs. Frank Erwin Center, Austin TX.