The three-hour trip to Southern Crescent Tech took a dangerous turn on the tip-off Friday night for Georgia Northwestern Lady Bobcats.

GNTC, fighting for a spot in the TCSGAA post-season tournament, lost starting forward Kayci McGee on the tip with an ankle injury.

But despite being down to six players, the Lady Bobcats rolled to a 20-point halftime lead en route to a regular season-ending 69-27 win.

Kelsie Philpot came off the bench to score 21 points and grab 10 rebounds in the victory.

“We couldn’t be more proud of what they’ve learned and the turn-around they’ve accomplished,” said Lady Bobcats head basketball coach Jim Williams of his first-year squad.

Mia Morrow dropped in 15 points and dished off 10 assists, and Jessica Williams made it three double-doubles for the Lady Bobcats with 10 points and 16 rebounds.

With the win, GNTC (5-7, 5-3) has earned a No. 2 seed in the TCSGAA post-season tournament, which will be played March 4-5 at Chattanooga’s Tennessee Temple University.

X-rays on McGee’s ankle were negative. She is scheduled to see an orthopedic specialist on Monday.

Southern Crescent men 86, GNTC 83

Already playing with a seven-man roster, the Bobcats suited up just six on Friday as leading scorer Kyle Wilson missed the trip with the flu.

However, the Bobcats gave a truly gutsy performance, coming back from 10 points down late in the second half to force overtime before ultimately falling by just three points.

Ty Bonds’ putback beat the buzzer at the end of regulation to knot the game at 70, sending the game to extra time. The freshman would end the night with 10 points.

Co-captain Jesse Moore had a huge game with 21 points, 11 rebounds, two blocks, and two steals, while Ben Patton added 20 points.

Freshman Steven Ware had a big game with 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting to go with eight rebounds. His former Heritage High teammate Treas Jackson added 12 points in a losing effort.

GNTC (3-14, 0-8) will play its last regular-season home game on Tuesday against Hiwassee College at the Rossville Athletic Complex. The Bobcats lost at Hiwassee, 122-105, earlier this season.

The Bobcats final regular-season game will be Feb. 19 at Emory-Oxford College, who beat GNTC, 85-53, just two weeks ago.