DECATUR — The Lady Bulldogs competed in three games at last week’s Adair, Okla. tournament.

Decatur was beat badly during its first tournament game against the 4A, Adair Okla., Warriors, according to Decatur coach Bill Niven.

“Adair is a very good basketball team. They beat us in all phases of the game,” he said.

Decatur fared somewhat better against the Chouteau-Mazie Wildcats on Dec. 4, for a final score of 41-27.

The Bulldogs were only two points behind the Wildcats at the end of the third quarter, with a score of 26-24, but the Wildcats outscored Decatur 16-3 in the third quarter.

“It was a close ball game for the first three quarters, but then we just ran out of gas,” Niven said.

Injuries and other circumstances reduced Decatur’s team to 8 players.

Decatur’s Sarah Harris was the leading scorer of the game, with 11 points, and the other players all scored 1 to 4 points each, Niven said.

“For us it was an improvement,” he said,pointing out that Decatur still turned the ball over too much and didn’t hit enough free throws.

The lady Bulldogs lost 48-26 to the Dewey, Okla., Bulldoggers on their final tournament game on Dec. 8.

“We got off to a slow start and gave up a lot of fast-break baskets early in the game, but I was really proud of the way the girls fought,” Niven said.

Injuries and ACT testing reduced the team to seven players, but Decatur fought hard throughout the game. Decatur outscored Dewey 19-17 in the second half, but it wasn’t enough to close the gap.

“I was real proud of the girls in this ball game because we outscored them in the second half,” Niven said.

Decatur’s Hannah Ramsey scored 14 points in the game, 10 of which were in the last quarter. Ramsey has a good chance of being a strong post player, with good feet and good hands, Niven said.

Sadie Roughton did a good job of getting the ball to Ramsey, he said.

Sarah Harris scored 8 points in the game, followed by Lynlie Witcher, who scored 4.

Niven said he is seeingclear improvement in the girls’ games as they begin to close the gap between their opponents.

“I really was proud of the way the girls fought,” he said.

After the tournament, the Lady Bulldogs lost tothe Oaks Mission Warriors 49-22 at an Oaks, Okla. game on Monday.

The Lady Bulldogs faced the Watts, Okla. Engineers on Tuesday after press time and will play the Union Christian Academy at home on Dec. 18.

Sports, Pages 10 on 12/12/2012