MERIDIAN – A night after scoring 97 points in a lopsided win over Southern-Shreveport to open the Region 23 Tournament, the Bobcats couldn't find their rhythm in being held to a season-low point total at Meridian in a 67-50 loss to end the season. 

Meridian improved to 21-6 and advances to the tournament semifinals in Clinton on Friday, while Jones ends Newton Mealer's debut season 17-8 overall.

In a back-and-forth first half that saw seven ties, Jones led by as many as five early and Meridian by five late in the half. 

Jones jumped out to a 7-2 lead before the Eagles immediately responded with an 8-0 run to go on top. 

Meridian led 31-27 at the half.

The Eagles opened the second half with 10 of the first 13 points to extend their lead to 41-30 and took control from there. Jones got no closer than seven the rest of the way.

Jones shot just 32 percent from the floor, including 1-of-10 from downtown. 

Ashton Campbell and Calvin Temple were the lone Bobcats in double figures with 14 and 11. Jabari Bowman had a dozen rebounds.