DECATUR — The Decatur Bulldogs senior boys' basketball team was on the road Jan. 9 and Jan. 12, traveling first to Kingston then to Omaha for two more of nine remaining conference games of the 2017-18 season. The Bulldogs have yet to win any conference contest, and both the Kingston and Omaha games ended with a continuation of their losing streak.
First up, the Kingston Yellowjackets Jan. 8 in the gym at Kingston High School. This is the second time these two teams have met this season. The first was Dec. 5, 2017, at Peterson Gym in Decatur. In that contest, the Yellowjackets took control of the contest early and won that conference matchup, 70-48.
In the Jan. 9 game, the Yellowjackets quickly established control of the contest, amassing as much as a 20-point lead throughout much of the contest. But late in the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs fought back, cutting the Kingston lead to 12 in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter. But Kingston caught its second wind and once again widened its lead to 21 when time ran out. They took the conference win over the Decatur Bulldogs, 56-35.
Although the Bulldogs lost the Kingston game, John Unger, boys' basketball coach, saw a lot of improvement in his team from past contests.
"I was proud of their efforts in this game," Unger said. "The kids worked hard and stayed with it more than in past contests. If they continue to play this way, I see us with a real chance to win more the rest of the season."
Leading the way for the Bulldogs was Ryan Ross with nine points and five rebounds, followed by Garry Woods with eight points and seven rebounds, Levi Newman with six points and eight rebounds. Rounding out the Decatur efforts were Alex Lee with five points and three rebounds, Jimmy Mendoza with four points and seven rebounds, Taylor Haisman with two points and two rebounds and Cayden Bingham with one point and two rebounds.
The Bulldogs shot 57 percent from the free-throw line, hitting four of seven attempts. Ross led the way, hitting three out of his five attempts, with Bingham making one of two. Decatur shot 37 percent in the field goal department, hitting 15 of 41 shots.
The Bulldogs traveled to Omaha Jan. 12 for another conference matchup. The Eagles currently sit on top of the 1A Northwest conference leaderboard.
From the opening tipoff, the Eagles took control and never looked back as they handed the Decatur Bulldogs yet another loss, 67-31.
Leading the Bulldogs in the Eagles contest was Ross with 12 points and 2 rebounds, followed by Taylor Haisman with nine points and Newman with four points and five rebounds. Rounding out the Bulldogs scoring efforts were Mendoza, Bingham and Woods, each with two.
Decatur hit 43 percent of its field goals, sinking 13 of 30 attempts, while Omaha landed 26 of 39 attempts for 67 percent.
The Eagles made 75 percent of their free throws, sinking 26 of 39 attempts, while the Bulldogs landed only 50 percent, four out of eight attempts.
There are only seven games, four at home, left in the 2017-18 boys' basketball season. For a complete list of these remaining games go to decatursd.com/athletics.
Sports on 01/17/2018