DECATUR -- Every year the Decatur basketball program hosts its winter classic Decatur Holiday Hoops at Peterson Gym in Decatur. This year's event began Nov. 28 and ended with the championship and third-place rounds on Dec. 3.
Eight teams played in this year's event: the Union Christian Eagles, JC Westside Rebels, Bergman Panthers, Mulberry Yellow Jackets, Mountainburg Dragons, Eureka Springs Highlanders, the defending champion West Fork Tigers and the host Decatur Bulldogs.
The Decatur Bulldogs opened the boys' tournament Nov. 28 against former 2A 4West rival Johnson County Westside Rebels.
The Bulldogs put the first points on in the open minute of the first quarter, maintaining a slim lead until the Rebels fought back in the closing minute to take a 13-11 lead into the beginning of the second quarter. Westside continued to hold the lead throughout much of the second quarter until Decatur's press offense gave them a four-point lead, 19 to 15, going into the break.
Westside tied the game at 37 with 20 seconds left in regulation play, sending the game into overtime. Decatur's shooting went flat in the overtime period, allowing the Rebels to take the lead and eventually the victory, 46 to 40. The Rebels advanced to the second-round winners' bracket and the Bulldogs into the second-round losers' bracket.
Decatur's next opponent was the Union Christian Eagles, who had lost to the West Fork Tigers, 63 to 50, in their opening-round bid.
The Dec. 1 matchup opened with the Bulldogs putting up back-to-back three-point shots by Bracy Owens and Taylor Haisman, setting the pace for the remainder of the game. The Eagles mounted a comeback late in the second quarter to tie the score at 17 going into the break.
With less than a minute left in the game, Decatur was out in front by only two but widened that lead to 6 with only 20 seconds left in the game. A last-ditch effort by the Eagles only yielded a two pointer, giving the Bulldogs a 41-37 victory and a spot in the third-place round Dec. 3.
Decatur's faced the Mulberry Yellow Jackets, a first meeting of the two teams. Lead in the game went back and forth throughout the first half, ending with Decatur eventually over Mulberry, 21-18, at the break.
With five minutes left, the Yellow Jackets hit a three pointer and took a one-point lead. In the end, the Yellow Jackets stung the Bulldogs, 47 to 37, and took home the third-place trophy. Decatur finished the tournament in fourth place with a 1 and 2 record.
The championship round pitted the Mountainburg Dragons against the defending champion West Fork Tigers. The Tigers proved to much for the Dragons and West Fork once again took home the championship trophy with a 61-47 win.
Other tournament scores
West Fork 63-Union Christian 50, Bergman 79-Mulberry 73, Mountainburg 63-Eureka Springs 44, West Fork 80-Westside 42.
Sports on 12/07/2016