ORANGEFIELD — The Orangefield Bobcats were cold from the field in their season opener Tuesday night as the Lumberton Raiders escaped Bobcat Gym with a 45-34 victory.

The Bobcats actually dominated the first quarter, outscoring the visiting Raiders 11-4.

However, the Raiders found the hot hand in the second period, erupting on a 20-5 spurt to snare a 24-16 halftime edge.

The Raiders were able to extend the lead to 30-19 but the Bobcats scrambled back to get as close as 30-23.

Raider post Gabe Sonnier helped keep the Bobcats at bay in the fourth quarter as he roamed the paint for eight of his team-high 13 points.

Guard Caleb Kress sparked the Bobcats on offense, finishing with a game-high 16 points. He scored eight of the Bobcats’ 11 first-quarter points.

Mason Gonzales and Alex Catt had five points apiece for the Bobcats.

Guards Gavin Whitmire and Reagan Koch tallied nine points apiece for the Raider arsenal.
The Raiders went 11-of-16 from the free-throw line while the Bobcats were just 9-of-20.

The Bobcats will participate in the Evadale Tournament Thursday through Saturday.