DECATUR -- The Decatur Bulldog senior boys basketball team inaugurated the new Decatur Middle School gym in style, by winning the first game of the Decatur Summer League basketball series against the Colcord Hornets in Decatur May 30.
Since the ribbon cutting ceremony May 8, the new gym has been used primarily as a practice facility for the Lady Bulldog volleyball and basketball teams, as well as an auditorium for several events during the closing of the 2018-19 school year. Now the gym is serving yet another role, as a competition gym. It is only fitting that the Bulldogs win the first ever game in the new building.
The Bulldogs jumped out in front by four midway through the first half and managed to hold on to that point spread by the half time break. The Hornets kept the game close in the final three minutes, taking the lead by two. But the Bulldogs were determined to win the first basketball contest in their new gym and fought back to win by one over the Colcord Hornets, 35-34.
Decatur squared off against longtime rival Eureka Springs in the second game of the afternoon. The contest got off to a slow start with both team's defenses holding the scoring down to a minimum. By the end of the first half, Decatur and Eureka were tied at 10 all. Decatur continued to play close until the end, when a three point shot by the Highlanders gave them the game, 30-27.
In the third game, the Pioneers squared off against Colcord. Gentry hammered the Hornets from the start, building a 16-point lead going into half time, 22-6. The Hornets cut into the Pioneers lead in the second half but time expired before Colcord could make up any ground and Gentry took the win, 39-22.
Game four saw Eureka Springs facing Colcord. It was a repeat of the Gentry game as the Highlanders built a 20-point lead in the first half and managed to maintain that deficit to the end as Eureka took the win, 45-25.
Finally, the Bulldogs and the Pioneers faced off against each other in game five. Decatur kept it close in the first half, but the Pioneers picked up the pace in the later stages of the second half and eventually took the win, 33-19.
The final game of the series saw the Highlanders and Pioneers slugging it out, with Gentry taking the win, 52-36, over Eureka Springs.
The Bulldogs, Pioneers, Hornets and Hillbillies return to the Decatur Middle School gym for round two of the Decatur Summer League June 11, beginning at 1 p.m. with Decatur-Colcord, Okla., and ending with Ozark-Gentry at 4:10 p.m. The high school series concludes June 13 when Gentry squares off with Colcord, beginning at 1 p.m.
Decatur, Colcord and Gentry junior high teams face off at Decatur Middle School gym June 10 and 12, beginning at 1 p.m.
For more information on the Decatur summer league, go to decatursd.com.
Sports on 06/05/2019