Before an important stretch of three games, the Bastrop Bears finally put four quarters together.
Bastrop defeated Anderson 67-51 thanks to 18 fourth quarter points from Josiah Monroe Friday at Bear Gym in Bastrop.
Monre, who was 13-of-14 from the free-throw line, had a game-high 31 points.
More importantly, Bastrop’s win sends the Bears into a stretch of games that include Akins, Austin High and Bowie, on a positive note.
“Our first goal is to win 18 games, then 20,” said head coach Stephen Autrey. “If we can take care of that, the we can work on the playoffs.”
Bastrop (16-12, 3-6 District 25-5A) were three games out of the fourth playoff spot behind both Akins and Austin High before Friday.
Pending an outcome of Bowie-Akins, the Bears could be two games out of fourth place going into the upcoming stretch.
“Akins is playing so well,” Autrey said. “We are going to take care of what we need to do and let everything else work itself out.”
Bastrop lost each of their games with Akins, Bowie and Austin High by a total six points, with two games being decided in overtime.
On Friday, Bastrop left no question who the better team was after erasing an early 8-0 deficit.
Monroe scored 10 of his 13 first half points in a stretch of three minutes as part of a 13-0 run in the first quarter.
Bastrop’s duo of Jordan Roach and Monroe continued to fire on all cylinders throught the first half, combining for 19 points in Bastrop’s 31-27 lead at halftime.
Monroe got into foul trouble in the third quarter, but not until he helped the Bears build a nine-point lead.
Bastrop carried a 10-point lead into the final period, but Anderson managed to cut that lead down to six points with four minutes to play.
Anderson kept putting Monroe on the charity stripe despite his 71 percent free-throw shooting.
The junior guard made the Trojans pay for it, going a perfect 8-8 in the final two minutes.

Bastrop 67, Anderson 51
Anderson    13    14    13    11    -    51
Bastrop    17    14    19    17    -    67
Bastrop: Josiah Monroe 31, Jordan Roach 16, Chris Harrell 8, Petey Thompson 7, Aaron Clemens 3, John Thorne 2.
Anderson: Garvelle 4, Ballee 2, Poole 11, Gluckman 12, Wilson 7, Townsend 5, Brownfield 7, Clark 4, Frame 4
3-pointers: B: Monroe (2), Harrell (2), Roach, Clemens.