By Taylor Lee
Berthoud Recorder

Another close game slipped away from the Berthoud Lady Spartans on Thursday night after a 52-47 home loss to Sterling.

The score flip-flopped early on with each team leading until Rose Heaphy’s basket gave the Spartans a six-point lead at halftime. But in the third quarter, the Tigers rallied to tie the score at 28-all.Sterling (11-5, 8-5 4A Northern Conference) then pulled ahead 37-33. Amy Ekart retaliated with two free throws and a 3-pointer to push the Spartans to a 45-39 lead.

But Sterling sealed the game thanks to the play of Harley Beardsley. Beardsley scored eight of her team’s final 10 points en route to 16 points.

Ekart led the Spartans (6-11, 5-8) with 23 points.

“I think we need to work on boxing out. Also, we need to take advantage when we are ahead and not let our opponents catch up,” Ekart said.

“I agree that we need to work on boxing out,” Heaphy added. “We also need to work on our rebounding. We can play to a high level like we have shown before.”

Berthoud played host to Longmont on Friday night before ending the regular season Tuesday at Northridge.