MOUNT VERNON, Texas-Liberty-Eylau's Leopards fought until they couldn't fight anymore.
Liberty-Eylau fell to Spring Hill, 73-59, in the Class 4A bi-district basketball playoffs Tuesday at Mount Vernon's Tiger Gym.
Spring Hill, ranked No. 14 in the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches state poll, opened the contest on the run.
The Panthers (35-3) scored eight unanswered points in the first quarter to give themselves the early cushion.
The Leopards played tenacious defense from the opening tip, but their aggressive play caused turnovers and fouls for themselves.
The Leopards settled down and clawed back to tie the Panthers, 10-10, at the buzzer on a Dominique Williams putback.
The Leopards (17-12) continued to control the pace of the contest to open the second period.
The Panthers used their transition offense to gain a slight edge over the Leopards midway through the second.
The long-range shooting of Williams and Kentraile Atkins kept the margin with the Panthers close.
After trailing much of the second quarter, the Leopards tied the contest behind the post play of Talveyion Cooper. Cooper finished the quarter with six points and ended the game with 10 points. Cooper also added nine rebounds.
After a Leopard turnover, Spring Hill was able to regain the lead before intermission, 27-24.
Atkins finished with 11 points and six rebounds for the Leopards, while teammate Williams led the Leopards offensively with 13 with seven rebounds.
Isaiah Cross added nine points for the Leopards.
Cooper continued to dominate the Panthers in the post to open the second half.
Howard Barron knocked down two free throws to put the Leopards within three points at the 5:43 mark, 31-28.
Atkins also was perfect from the charity stripe in the third quarter. Atkins' four free throws put the Leopards within a point, 33-32, with 4:29 remaining in the period.
Spring Hill's transition offense helped the Panthers garner a eight-point lead before the fourth quarter, 44-36.
The Leopards went bucket for bucket with the Panthers, but Spring Hill ultimately held its lead to advance to the area round against Canton, which beat Sunnyvale, 49-46, in bi-district action.