DECATUR -- The Decatur Lady Bulldogs made a little history Nov. 26 when they played host in the fifth annual Decatur Holiday Hoops Basketball Tournament at Peterson Gym in Decatur. In the five years of the tournament, no Lady Bulldog team has ever won a first-round game. This year's team accomplished just that.
The Lady Bulldogs were joined in this year's tournament by Mountainburg, Mulberry, Life Way Christian, Union Christian, St. Paul, Eureka Springs, and Exeter, Mo. The five-day tournament began Nov. 26, with the Lady Bulldogs taking on the Lady Yellowjackets from Mulberry.
Decatur quickly gained control of the first quarter, due in part to great offensive and defensive work by Sammie Skaggs, Annabelle Schopper and Kaylee Morales. The three combined to score a total of nine points while holding the Lady Yellowjackets scoreless in the first quarter. Decatur continued to hold Mulberry scoreless for the first two minutes of the second quarter while building on its lead. But the Lady Yellowjackets finally broke their scoreless streak and hit a basket with six minutes left in the half. By the break, the Lady Bulldogs had amassed an eight-point lead over the Lady Yellowjackets.
During the second half, both teams' offenses went cold, with neither able to dominate during the remainder of the contest. The Decatur Lady Bulldogs held on, taking a 27-21 win over the Mulberry Lady Yellowjackets and advancing to the winners' bracket to face the Mountainburg Lady Dragons Nov. 28.
Leading the scoring drive for the Lady Bulldogs was Sammie Skaggs with 13, followed by Annabelle Schopper with eight, Kaylee Morales with four, and Abby Tilley with two.
In the second round, the Lady Bulldogs faced one of the strongest teams in the tournament, the Mountainburg Lady Dragons. From the opening tipoff, Decatur played one of its strongest contests to date, keeping pace with Mountainburg throughout the first three quarters.
During the first quarter, Decatur put up a two-pointer for the first points of the game. But Mountainburg answered with a three-pointer on its next possession, taking over the lead and holding it through much of the quarter. The Lady Bulldogs starting hitting the bucket late and tied the contest at 12-all going into the second quarter.
It was more of a defensive second quarter as both teams scoring drives went flat. By the end of the half, both teams hit a total of six points each and the score remained tied.
Mountainburg's offense began hitting late in the third quarter, allowing the Lady Dragons to take a five-point lead going into the final eight minutes of the contest.
Decatur tried to make a run on the lead but simply ran out of steam by the end of the game. The Mountainburg Lady Dragons claimed the victory, 49-31, over the Lady Bulldogs, eliminating Decatur from the tournament.
The Mountainburg Lady Dragons eventually won the Holiday Hoops Tournament in the championship round on Dec. 1 against the St. Paul Lady Saints, who took second in the tournament.
Leading scorer for Decatur was Skaggs with 14. Other Lady Bulldogs adding to the scoring effort included Destiny Mejia, Morales and Schopper, each with four, and Tilley and Mayra Flores with three each.
Sports on 12/05/2018