Fresh off a Friday the 13th sweep of Salem on the road, Jacob Walton’s Bland Bear basketball teams looked for another sweep Monday night in their final home game of the season against Steelville’s Cardinals.

Tipping things off in seventh-grade action, Bland nearly pulled off an amazing comeback.

Taking a 34-33 lead on a Chase Trainor 3-point play, the Bears were outscored 7-3 in the final 2:55 before falling 40-37 to the visiting Cardinals from Steelville.

Hank Stratman led the Bears in scoring putting in 14 of his game-high 17 points in the second half. Trainor also reached double figures for Bland with 11 points.

Defeating Steelville earlier in the month during the Bland 8th Grade Boys Basketball Tournament, the Bears looked for another win over the Cardinals.

Leading 10-8 after one quarter, Bland saw Steelville outscore them 17-5 in the second quarter before going on to fall to the Cardinals 46-25 in the 8th grade game.

Lukas Smith and Alec Elrod each scored six points to pace the Bears offense.

Drew Brown and Tyler Litton each added four points while Brody Reed scored all three of his points in the second quarter.

Glayden Woodruff rounded out the scoring for the 8th grade Bears with two points.

Also playing in their final home game for Bland’s Bears were Thomas Harrott and Jon Valley.

Bland has two games remaining in their season tomorrow (Thursday) at New Haven and on Monday, Nov. 23 in a Highway 28 showdown at Owensville Elementary School against the Dutchmen. Action at New Haven will start at 6 p.m., while the Owensville games will tip at 5:30 p.m.