FORT SMITH --The Decatur Bulldogs traveled south Dec. 18 to take on the Eagles of Union Christian Academy in the second conference game of the first half of the 2015-16 basketball season.
In the fourth game of the night, the Decatur senior boys took control of the first quarter, outscoring Union Christian, 11 to 3, on a pair of three-point shots by Taylor Haisman. The Bulldog team carried its lead into the first five minutes of the second quarter, but the tide turned in favor of the Eagles as they mounted a rally to take a two-point lead at the break, 20 to 18.
The second half started slow. Neither team scored during the first two minutes. The Eagles, however, began connecting with the basket and held a five-point lead, 34 to 29, at the end of the third. Both teams continued to struggle at the board in the fourth quarter, only hitting a combined 10 points. But, by the end of the game, Union Christian gained a 7-to-3 advantage to take the victory, 41 to 32.
The Bulldogs are now 1 and 1 in conference play.
The Bulldog junior high boys won their second game by defeating Union Christian, 32 to 22. Tajae White and Jimmy Mendoza led the scoring for Decatur.
Decatur's junior high girls lost to Union Christian in a close game, 13 to 12. Both teams failed to make points at the board throughout game, causing the extremely low score.
The Decatur and Union Christian senior girls' game started slow, with the Lady Eagles putting two on the scoreboard at the 5:40 mark in the first quarter. They took control of the game, holding the Lady Bulldogs scoreless throughout the first quarter, and commanded a 14-to-0 at the end of the quarter. Union Christian continued to hold Decatur scoreless until the 6:10 mark. Then, the Lady Eagles went on a 16 to 2 run and tool a 30-to-4 lead going into the break.
The Lady Bulldogs came out strong on defense but failed to capitalize on the board, leading to a Lady Eagles victory, 47 to 22.
The Decatur senior boys and girls and the junior high girls open the second half of the 2015-16 season when they play Hartford at Peterson Gym in Decatur Jan. 5, beginning at 5 p.m.
Sports on 12/23/2015