DECATUR -- The Decatur Bulldogs senior boys' basketball team opened its 2017-18 regular season on the road, taking on the Hartford Hustlers Nov. 9 in Hartford.

The game got off to a slow start as both teams had trouble on the offensive boards. Toward the end of the quarter, the Bulldogs began hitting the boards and by quarter's end held an 8-4 lead. The Hustlers finally found the basket in the second quarter, outscoring Decatur, 12 to 1, and taking a three-point advantage, 20-17, into the halftime break.

The Bulldogs were never able to make up ground on the Hustlers during the second half. Both teams traded shot for shot throughout the entire half (13 points each in the third and 15 each in the fourth quarters) which allowed Hartford to maintain its three-point lead for the victory, 48-45, over the Bulldogs.

Earlier in the week, the junior Bulldog boys' team opened its season at home in Peterson Gym Nov. 6 against the Fayetteville New School Cougars. This contest marked the entry of Coach Jeff Melton to the boys' basketball program as assistant coach and his first game as the junior Bulldogs' coach.

Decatur fell behind quickly during the first quarter and, by the end of the third quarter, the Cougars held a 36-14 lead. During the final eight minutes of the contest, the junior Bulldogs gained momentum and began a run that whittled down New School's lead. But time was not on Decatur's side and Fayetteville New School held on to win, 41-28.

The junior-high boys will travel to Fayetteville to once again take on the New School Cougars on Thursday. Games begin at 5 p.m.

The senior boys will play their first home game against the Exeter (Mo.) Tigers at Peterson Gym in Decatur Nov. 17. The game will start immediately following the Lady Bulldogs' game at 5:30 p.m. They will travel to Gentry to take on the Pioneers in the gym at Gentry High School Nov. 20. The game will follow the Lady Bulldogs' game which begins about 6 p.m.