The Thompson Lady Warriors’ fell one game short of their first regional final in 10 years Wednesday, falling to the top-ranked Bob Jones Patriots 67-53 in the Northwest Regional tournament.

&8220;Bob Jons is a good team. I think we played hard there until the very end. I hate to think that we ran out of gas, but maybe we did. Overall we were prepared for them, and I think they were kind of surprised a little bit. We got within four points but never could get ahead,&8221; coach Cara Crosslin said.

Kirby Mitchell hit a lay-up two minutes into the tame to give Thompson their only lead of the game, 4-2, before Bob Jones took the lead for good. The closest the Lady Warriors came after Brittany Manning gave the Patriots the lead, was an 8-7 deficit after a 3-point basket by Thompson’s Christina Shelton.

The Patriots followed with a 9-0 run before Thompson cut the defict to four points, 17-13, at the end of the first quarter. Bob Jones took their first double-digit lead in the second quarter and carried a 12 point lead into the half, later to grow to as many as 15 points in the final minute of the game.

Shelton hit a 3-point basket with one minute to play in the third quarter to cut the lead to 42-39, but that would be the closest Thompson came. Shelton finished with a 3-for-5 performance from the 3-point arc and 12 points, while Rhonda Watts led the way with 17 points. Zoriah Williams collected 10 points.

Although not making the regional final, the Lady Warriors finsihed the season 23-6 and 6-0 in area play on their way to an area title.

&8220;It’s a step in the right direction for our program,&8221; Crosslin said.