WATTS (Okla.) -- The Decatur Bulldog junior and senior boys basketball teams had reason to celebrate when they traveled to Watts, Okla., for a nonconference contest at Engineers Gym Nov. 14.

After the loss to the Hartford Hustlers, John Unger, head boys coach, and assistant Jeff Melton sat down with the team on Monday, Nov. 13, to review the Hartford game films in an effort to improve the team's playing abilities. It apparently worked.

When the Bulldog team took the court in the Watts contest, players had a new attitude and determination that has been missing from the last several seasons. And as the night progressed, the Decatur Bulldogs resembled more the 2013-14 2A District championship team than the teams of the past three years.

Decatur ran up six quick points before Watts finally scored. Within three minutes, the Engineers had amassed a six-point lead. But the Engineers' ride was short-lived when, at the 4:31 point in the first quarter, the Bulldogs regained the lead and control of the contest. From that point, the Bulldogs poured on the coals and held on to a slim 17-16 lead by quarter's end.

The Bulldogs maintained as much as a 16-point lead throughout the remainder of the contest. On two occasions Watts closed to six points before the Bulldogs put the brakes on the Engineers' runs, eventually taking their first victory of the 2017-18 season, 64-50.

Leading the Bulldogs was Taylor Haisman with 27 points and 5 rebounds. Two Bulldogs had double-doubles, Garry Woods with 15 points and 12 rebounds, followed by Ryan Ross with 14 points and 13 rebounds. Other Bulldogs contributing to the win included Levi Newman with 4 points and 4 rebounds, Alex Lee and Jimmy Mendoza each with 2 points and 2 rebounds.

Coach Melton's Junior Bulldogs fared well earlier in the evening as they too claimed their first victory, 37-20, over the Junior Engineers.

The Decatur Bulldogs have two more nonconference games before they play host to the Decatur Holiday Hoops Basketball Tournament at Peterson Gym in Decatur the week of Nov. 27.