DECATUR — The Decatur Summer Classic boys' basketball tournament continued June 14 at Peterson Gym in Decatur. Participants in this week's tournament included the host team, Decatur Bulldogs, and the Gentry Pioneers and Eureka Springs Highlanders.
Up first were the Bulldogs and the Pioneers in a rematch game from June 7 when Gentry took the victory.
For Brent Hester, the Bulldog-Pioneer game marked his first appearance as Gentry's new boys' basketball coach.
The Bulldogs put the first two points on the board at the 16:30 mark in the first half and maintained the lead throughout the half, taking a 4-point lead into the halftime break, 13 to 9.
Decatur continued to dominate Gentry, taking a 19-11 lead three minutes into the second half. However, the Pioneers mounted an 8-0 run to tie at 19 with less than 8 minutes in the game. The game remained tied until the 1:30 minute mark when Decatur hit a two. With less than 30 seconds left, the Bulldogs, still up by two points, took control of the ball. Decatur ran the clock out, taking the victory, 25 to 23.
The Pioneers took on the Highlanders of Eureka Springs in the second game of the evening. The game remained scoreless for the first five minutes until Gentry put the first points on the scoreboard at the 12 minute mark. The lead changed hands several times until the close of the first half when Gentry put up two to tie the game at 16 all.
It was all Eureka Springs in the second half as the Highlanders built as much as a 10-point lead. In the end, the Highlanders took the win, 35 to 27.
The Bulldogs were back in action, taking on the Highlanders in the final full game of the night. Eureka Springs scored first at the 13:59 mark, followed immediately by the Bulldogs with two. The Bulldogs took the lead in the next series with a three-point shot by Leng Lee. Eureka Springs regained and held the lead, 19 to 11, going into the break.
The Highlanders continued to lead in the second half, posting as much as an 11-point lead at the 8:53 mark. With 30 seconds left to play, a three pointer gave the Bulldogs a one-point advantage. With three seconds left in the game, the Highlanders regained the lead on two free throws and took the game, 42 to 40.
In a two minute shootout, the Bulldogs finally defeated the Highlanders by three. This was Decatur's first victory against Eureka Springs all summer. Eureka earned the victory in the second and final shootout of the night.
The Decatur Summer Classic will continue in July. For more information and dates of the summer classic, go to decatursd.com/athletics.
Sports on 06/22/2016