DECATUR -- Returning for the second half of the 2019-20 season, the Decatur Bulldog varsity boys basketball team started its road to the district playoff with a conference game against rival Eureka Springs at Peterson Gym in Decatur Jan. 7. The bleachers were nearly full as Bulldog fans watched the Highlanders rollover their beloved team to claim the victory by 10.
During a few post-Christmas break practices, Coach Fess Thompson worked out several weak points in both the Bulldog offense and defense, getting the boys ready for the big conference push.
"We're pumped and ready to play basketball," Thompson said just before the Bulldogs took to the court.
The Highlanders went on the offensive for much of the first quarter, outscoring the Bulldogs, 17-8, and taking a nine-point advantage going into the second quarter. For the next eight minutes, both defenses kept the scores low, with Eureka edging out Decatur by one point. But the point spread from the first quarter came back to haunt the Bulldogs as the team trailed the Highlanders by 10 at the half.
Poor shooting choices and missed free throws plagued both teams in the third quarter, with the Bulldogs gaining a slim 8-7 advantage, cutting into the Highlander lead going into the next quarter.
The Bulldog offense finally hit a run in the final eight minutes of the game. For the next three minutes, Decatur whittled down Eureka's lead to one with five minutes to play. But, as quickly as it started, the Bulldogs went cold, missing nine of 10 free throws and making several simple fundamental errors, quickly falling behind Eureka once again.
"You got to follow through with the play, follow through," Thompson shouted to several of his players during the final three minutes.
The Decatur Bulldogs were never able to catch back up, and the final buzzer sounded as the Eureka Springs Highlanders took the conference win, 45-35.
Kevin Garcia was the only Bulldog in double figures with 19 points. Bryson Funk was next with eight points, six rebounds, one turnover and two steals. Jose Rubi had five points, three rebounds and four steals. Adam Garcia rounded out the Decatur offensive drive with three points, four rebounds and three turnovers. Christian Ramirez had two rebounds, two turnovers and four steals, while teammate Enrique Rubi had two rebounds, one turnover and one steal.
Two Highlanders were in double figures, Matthew Lester with 27 and Jackson Cross with 11.
The Bulldogs braved extreme weather conditions Friday, traveling east to Yellville-Summit for the second conference contest of the week against the Panthers in the high school gym.
The Yellville-Summit Panthers took control of the contest in the first quarter and never relented, overwhelming the Decatur Bulldogs, 69-40, for the conference win.
Sports on 01/15/2020