By Brandon Sumrall | Special to the Advertiser

The Isabella Mustangs varsity girls basketball team put together a major comeback on Monday night, but came up just short of the win in a 57-55 loss to the Cornerstone Eagles in the regional round of the 1A State Championship Tournament.

An ice-cold start to the game put Isabella in a major hole as a 0-for-10 shooting performance saw the Mustangs end the first period down 20-0.

A minute and four seconds into the second period and Synia Chattman sank the first baskets of the night for Isabella with a pair of free throws and followed it up with another two-point basket.

With the Eagles answering with baskets of their own, the Mustangs were failing to make much ground on the large deficit, but cut the lead to 19 at the half, 31-12.

The comeback was on to start the third period, as a pair of baskets from Chattman made the lead 15, and it was later cut to 10 on another basket from Chattman and a three from Sophie Underwood.

A basket from Alexis Owens and another 3-pointer from Underwood cut the Eagles lead to five, but the Mustangs needed more 3-point magic, as Cornerstone answered with points of their own to put Isabella back down by nine.

With a basket from Vivian Atchison, and a three from Carmelina Fjeldstad, the Mustangs made it a five-point game entering the final period, 43-38.

The 3-point magic the Mustangs desperately needed came by way of another three from Underwood to start the fourth period that cut the lead to two, but the Eagles again answered by opening the lead back up to six.

Fjeldstad answered with another three for Isabella and following an Eagles free throw, Underwood made it a one-point game with another 3-pointer for Isabella.

With the Eagles ahead by three and 34 seconds remaining, a pair of threes from Atchison again made the Cornerstone lead, one.

A last second 3-point attempt sailed wide and sealed the fate of the Mustangs.

Underwood led the Mustangs with 17 points, including 5-of-10 from behind the 3-point line, along with three rebounds and a steal.