Bradford Austy Miller splits the Russia defense Tuesday afternoon at the Buccaneer Holiday Classic. Miller reached another scoring milestone in the game, passing the 1,500-point mark.
COVINGTON — It was a matchup of legendary coaches when Chris Besecker’s Bradford girls basketball team faced a Russia team coach by Paul Bremigan.
The two have combined for more than 800 wins.
And the Lady Railroaders stayed closes for a quarter and a half, before losing to the Raiders 61-45 in the opening round of the Buccaneer Holiday Classic Tuesday afternoon.
Bradford will play Newton in the consolation game at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, while Russia will play Covington in the title game at 6 p.m.
Bradford senior guard Austy Miller passed another milestone in the game, going over 1,500 points for her career.
The Railroaders were tied 8-8 after two free throws by Abby Fike late in the first quarter.
A 3-pointer by Rylee Canan pulled Bradford within 15-13 with 6:15 remaining in the first half.
But, with two 3-pointers by Cece Borchers sparking the Raiders, Russia finished the half on 16-3 run to open a 31-16 lead at the break.
Borchers had 12 points in the opening half and Ella Hoehne scored 11 points.
Russia stretched the margin to 47-27 after three quarters, before Bradford was able to cut five points off that margin in the final eight minutes for the final deficit.
The Railroaders, 8-3, were led by Miller with 22 points, eight rebounds and three assists and Rylee Canan added 13 points, seven rebounds and nine steals.
Brooklyn Crickmore scored six points.
Hoehne led Russia with 17 points and Borchers scored 16 points.
Kate Sherman finished with 10 points and Reese Goubeaux and Simone Puthoff both scored eight points each.
Bradford won’t have to wait long for a second game with Raiders, facing Russia Monday.
