Bulldogs extend winning streak

Friday's win over Hartford was payback for Decatur's only league loss this season

— Revenge was a little bit harder to achieve than Decatur’s boys thought it might be Friday night against Hartford.

The Bulldogs went more than 15 minutes without a field goal and managed only 10 points over the final three quarters but held off the Hustlers enough to claim a 27-26 victory in a 2A-4 West Conference basketball game in Lloyd Peterson Gymnasium.

A 12-0 run in the first quarter was enough to help Decatur (16-5, 9-1) take the lead, and the Bulldogs’ defense held Hartford in check just enough to make up for their only league loss. The Hustlers’ Korey Eveld tried to tie the game at the buzzer when he grabbed an offensive rebound and banked in a shot, but he was well inside the 3-point line.

“We didn’t play good,” Decatur coach John Unger said. “We didn’t play well offensively, and Hartford did a good job of putting the pressure on us.

“I was disappointed with how we came out and played. Offensively, we didn’t execute at all - just jacking up shots. That’s the things we’re going to work on next week if we’re going to make a deep run at the playoffs.”

Andrew Harris had a three-point play and adunk during Decatur’s early run, which turned a six-point deficit into a 17-11 lead on Victor Urquidi’s running jumper. Mario Urquidi’s dunk with 4 minutes, 56 seconds left in the second quarter gave the Bulldogs a 19-13 cushion, but that was their last bucket until Mario Urquidi’s putback off a missed free throw with 5:29 remaining.

Hartford (2-16, 1-9) struggled with its offense just as much through the second and third quarters as each team managed just six points during that time. The Hustlers then cut it to 23-22 on Ray Blanchard’s free throw at the 5:47 mark, but missed a chance to tie when he missed the second try from the line.

“They made one more play than we did, and we missed from free throws,” Hartford coach Ronnie Denton said. “We have to find a remedy to score. We didn’t shoot the ball well, which is expected on the road, but usually we shoot a little better.”

Mario Urquidi had nine points and Victor Urquidi seven for Decatur. Conor Bumpus paced Hartford with eight, followed by Blanchard with seven.

Decatur closing in on 2A-4 title From Staff Reports

DECATUR - The Bulldogs are riding an eight-game winning streak and boys basketball coach John Unger said the Bulldogs have put themselves into position to make a deep run at the Class 2A State Tournament.

Decatur (16-5, 9-1) sits alone atop the 2A-4 Conference standings ahead of both Hackett and Johnson County Westside with four games left. If Decatur can finish either first or second in the conference standings, it will get a bye to the district tournament semifinals, which means an automatic bid to the regional tournament.

“There are still so many things I feel we can get better at,” Unger said. “If we can just keep learning every game, then the sky is the limit for these kids. I really believe we are one of the top teams in 2A. I really think we can compete for a state championship because the talent is there.”

Sophomore Mario Urquidi (6-foot-4) is averaging 13.2 points a game while Victor Urquidi and Andrew Harris are each averaging eight points a game. Mario Urquidi is averaging 9.4 rebounds a game, while Harris and Victor Urquidi are getting six rebounds an outing.

“If we can get four or five guys scoring 10, 12 points a night, we are tough to guard,” Unger said. “That is our philosophy. If we can get everybody to chip in each night, that makes us that much better. If we can push the tempo a little bit more, we can create turnovers and easy baskets.”

Decatur defeated Fort Smith Union Christian last Tuesday and Hartford on Friday.

Opinion, Pages 11 on 01/30/2013