No stranger to what it takes to be successful in the playoffs following last year, the Lady Bears got one step closer to a possible postseason berth, Monday following a 67-60 home win over Meridian.
 
"Tonight was very important, and we talked a little bit about the playoffs and we can control only what we can control," Southwest head coach Brent Harris said. "I just want to play good basketball, win, lose or draw."
 
In the early stages of the first quarter, the Lady Bears (15-10, 5-7 MACCC) made a statement on both ends of the floor. While the defense held the Lady Eagles to just one made field goal in the opening 10:00 of play, the offense followed suit as a balanced attack, led by six points from Kara Beth Addison and four each from Gracie Miller and Bethany Graves helped Southwest build an 18-6 lead heading into the second quarter.
 
The hits kept coming for Southwest in the second as baskets from Addison, Mookie Lampley and Miller highlighted the opening of the period for the hosts who increased their lead to 18 at 24-6. As the quarter moved along, Meridian began to get into a groove and cut in the Southwest lead. Despite this, the Lady Bears scored six of the quarter's final eight points taking a 35-19 lead at the half.
 
Unfortunately, in the third quarter, the Lady Eagles inched closer. Southwest watched its lead shrink down to seven, but the Lady Bears did not panic and closed the third on a 14-5 run taking the momentum and a 51-35 lead into the fourth.
 
Once again, the momentum shifted sides and Meridian took advantage, rallying once again to pull closer. Key makes from Addison kept Southwest afloat as the Lady Eagles threatened.
 
With 1:07 to go, Meridian scored a basket to cut the Southwest lead to just three at 63-60.
 
But the combination of Addison and fellow sophomore Lampley came up big as the previous took a pass from the latter in the paint before finishing with a big basket inside making the score 65-60 with :43 to go.
 
"That wasn't designed, she (Lampley) was just playing basketball," Addison said. "She made a great read and I had to finish it."
 
One last defensive stand and two free throws from Lampley helped Southwest preserve the win.
 
Addison led Southwest with 22 points while Miller posted 13 and Lampley and Graves each tallied 11.
 
Southwest will head to Perkinston on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. to face Gulf Coast in the final road game of the regular season.