DECATUR -- In the final day of the Decatur Summer League, the Bulldogs reigned supreme as the team won all three of its contests, including a big win over the Gentry Pioneers on June 13.
The new gym at Decatur Middle School served as the perfect backdrop for the three-day summer league event which began May 30 and concluded June 13. Five area teams went head-to-head during the off-season scrimmage match ups.
The same four teams -- Decatur, Gentry, Colcord, Okla., and Ozark Catholic Academy -- that played in the June 11 contest returned June 13 to finish the event.
The Gentry Pioneers and Colcord Hornets kicked off the final day of competition. Unlike their previous meeting with the Pioneers, the Hornets came prepared for battle, falling behind by only seven points by the end of the first half. Both teams hit the court hard in the second half with the Hornets coming to within two points nine minutes into the half. But Gentry held on and took its first win of day three, 37-27 over Colcord.
Next up was Decatur-Ozark Catholic Academy in game two. The Bulldog defense went to work on the Griffins, holding them to only five points in the first half while the offense jumped out to a 25-5 lead at the break. The Griffins went on the offensive during the second half, taking advantage of the Bulldogs' sudden offensive cold streak during the first 12 minutes of the second half. The Griffins pulled to within six when Decatur's offense found the basket once again. While the Bulldogs pulled off the win, 37-29, Ozark Catholic played one of the best scrimmages of its six-game series.
In game three, the Colcord Hornets managed to hold on to a 27-22 win over the Ozark Catholic Griffins.
The big contest of the day was next when the Bulldogs squared off against the Pioneers in game four. Both teams hit the court hard as each tried to gain control of the contest. Decatur managed to gain the advantage, holding the lead throughout the first half and taking a five-point lead into the second half. It was a battle of epic proportions as the Bulldogs struggled to maintain control of the half. With two minutes left, Gentry overran Decatur to take a two-point lead. The Pioneers extended their lead to five until a three-pointer brought the Bulldogs back to within two with less than 30 seconds left. A layup by Kevin Sanchez tied the contest at 39 all. A shot from just inside the three-point line gave the Bulldogs the go-ahead points.
When time ran out, Decatur walked away with their second win against the Gentry Pioneers in three years, 41-39.
The Decatur win rattled the Pioneers during the first half of game five against the Griffins. Ozark Academy kept the game very close, trailing the Pioneers by only four points by the break. But the margin was shortlived and the Pioneers finally found their confidence and began playing basketball once again. When the final buzzer sounded at the end of the 30-minute scrimmage, Gentry emerged victorious once again, posting a 48-27 victory over Ozark Academy.
The final game of the series pitted Decatur against Colcord. Much like Gentry in the previous contest, the Bulldogs struggled to maintain control of the contest, allowing the Hornets to stay in the scrimmage and eventually tie it 12 all at the end of the first half. Once again the Bulldogs found themselves struggling when Colcord managed to overrun Decatur to gain the lead. In the end, the Bulldog team found its drive and pulled off its third win of the summer league, 35-34.
This was the first time in several years that Decatur posted wins in all three games in one day.
Gentry emerged the clear victor during the three-day scrimmages with eight wins and a single loss to Decatur. Decatur claimed the second spot with six wins and three losses. Colcord took the number three spot with two wins and seven losses. While the Griffins came very close in day three, they were unable to pick up a single victory, and Ozark Catholic went 0-6 for two of the three days. Eureka competed in the May 30 contest and picked up two wins and one loss.
Sports on 06/19/2019