For a team that was rebuilding, the Superior Lady Bobcats basketball team made it a long way this year under the leadership of head basketball coach Jeff Schultz.

The Lady Cats’ season came to an end at this past weekend’s Western B Divisional tournament as they fell to Anaconda 65-48 in the second round.

Superior lost their first-round game to eventual Western B champion Missoula Loyola 66-19 in the opening round on Thursday, sending them to the consolation bracket where they ran into Anaconda.

The Lady Copperheads emerged from a hard-fought first quarter with a 17-12 lead, then expanded that advantage to 35-22 by the halftime break.

Superior, as it has done all season, kept fighting and outscored Anaconda 16-12 in the third quarter, sending the two teams into the final quarter of regulation with the Lady Copperheads leading 47-36.

Anaconda outscored Superior 18-10 in the final eight minutes of play to seal the 65-48 win that, coupled with their opening round loss to Loyola, ended the Lady Bobcats season with a 10-14 record.

The young Superior team returns a solid group of players for next season, minus senior forward Braelynn Mangold, a multiple sport standout.

Forward Makenzie Reum led the Lady Cats with 15 points, while Anaconda standout forward Meela Mitchell scored a game-high 32 for the Lady Copperheads.

    Superior Lady Bobcat shooter Perri Jasper gets a two-pointer past Loyola Breaker Sammy McHugh. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)