NEWBERRY — The Fairfield Central Lady Griffins were unable to make it two wins in a row over S.C. 34 rival Newberry High on Saturday, falling to the Bulldogs by one point in Region AA action.

The 11-2 Griffins played tough with the Bulldogs heading into the fourth quarter. The score was knotted at 31, a solid accomplishment for a team that earlier in the season had lost by 28 to the Griffins.

As the game headed into the final minute, it looked as if the Griffins would eek out a two-point victory, but the Griffins were unable to box out the rebounder after two free throws by Newberry’s Octavia Grady clanged off the rim.

Newberry’s Arnasia Boyd grabbed the loose ball and got off a shot while she was fouled. Boyd completed the three-point play to put the Bulldogs ahead 46-45.

The Griffins were holding for the last shot and the win. With ten seconds remaining, after good ball movement they advanced into the paint for a high percentage look at the hoop but the shot in the right side of the paint missed.

Octavia Grandy secured the rebound, meaning the Griffins had to foul and hope she would miss her free throws. Grandy made the second of the two shots, meaning the Griffins only trailed by two, but they were unable to get off a shot for the tie or win before the final buzzer sounded.

The game for the FCHS boys was not nearly as climatic.

Newberry went on an 11-0 run early in the game and never looked back as the AA State runner up Bulldogs cruised to a 73-54 win. Playing their uptempo, run and gun style of basketball, the Bulldogs landed several players in double figures including Notorious Booker and Jalin Alexander with 16 points each, Kaheem Praylow with 13 points and Trey Miller with 11 points.