ROBERTSDALE, Ala. – Robertsdale’s Second Annual Golden Bear Classic proved to be anything but an average three-game weekend. With games against some of the most elite teams in Alabama, the Golden Bears lost all sense of normalcy.

The Bears faced the Faith Academy Rams, the Sidney-Lanier Poets and the McGill-Toolen Yellow Jackets over the Dec. 16-18 Classic.

The Bears (6-6) opened the Classic with their most stiff competition of the weekend against the Rams (9-2) on Thursday. Robertsdale trailed the entire game, ending the first half with a nine-point deficit. Playing more like last year’s “Elite 8” contenders, the Bears closed the gap in the second half.

Robertsdale senior Calvin Dade, player of the week for the previous three weeks, proved himself once again with 10 points, three blocked shots and one steal. With just under half one minute left in the fourth period and the game tied at 42, the Rams made an easy two-point shot which sealed their 44-42 win over the heartbroken Bears.

Friday’s contest against the Poets (1-8) gave the Bears their confidence back. Although the team’s free throw shooting was just under 50 percent, the Bears still managed to pull out a much needed 62-44 win.

Robertsdale junior Dionta Banks put up the team’s weekend high of 18 points. Robertsdale seniors, Cordero Dade and Kent Langham, totaled 16 points each.

With both teams going into Saturday’s match up at 1-1, the McGill-Toolen Yellow Jackets (7-8) and the Bears faced off in a thrilling grand finale. The game was anything but a “friendly.” Both teams reached their foul limits and multiple players fouled out of the game.

Though the Yellow Jackets led the game by double digits at one point, the Bears came back to loosen the Yellow Jackets’ grip on a win. However, the Bears fell short 60-56, dropping their Classic record to 1-2.

“I feel like we didn’t play to the best of our ability this weekend,” said junior Patrick Kucera. “I feel like we haven’t truly reached our potential yet this season. We are growing and I feel like these tough games are going to help us in the long run.”