Dog fight: Bulldogs defeat Danes

Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS

Christian Ramirez (center) flies through the air on his way to the basket for a layup during the Decatur-Haas Hall Rogers non-conference varsity ball game at Peterson Gym in Decatur Friday night.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Christian Ramirez (center) flies through the air on his way to the basket for a layup during the Decatur-Haas Hall Rogers non-conference varsity ball game at Peterson Gym in Decatur Friday night.

DECATUR --The celebration continued in Decatur on Friday night as the Bulldog basketball team, coming off a big win against NWA Classical Academy Spartans on Nov. 17, returned to Peterson Gym for the second home contest of the week. The opponent for the 32-minute contest was the Haas Hall Rogers Danes. The result? A second home win for the 2020-21 season.

The Danes kicked off the contest with the first field goal of the night. Decatur's Kevin Garcia followed, driving to the basket and hitting a layup to tie the game at two each. From there it was a see-saw battle as the lead changed hands several times during the first quarter.

With a minute left in the quarter, the Bulldogs held a three-point lead. A Dane player hit a field goal and drew a foul sending him to the free-throw line for one shot. He made the free throw and suddenly the game was tied at 13-all with 30 seconds left. Another field goal by Haas Hall Rogers moved them back into the lead when the quarter ended.

The second quarter belonged to the defense as neither team was able to execute its offensive game plans. With 1:10 left in the half, the game was tied at 22. A field goal by the Bulldogs with only a second left moved them in front by two going into the break.

The Decatur Bulldog offense came alive in the third quarter when Garcia, Trevor Girdner and Christian Ramirez powered their way past the Dane defense. Garica hit six field goals and four free throws, while Ramirez hit four straight free throws and a field goal and Girdner hit two field goals and a free throw. All three contributed 21 of the Bulldogs 23 total points to take a commanding 14-point lead by the end of the quarter.

The Bulldogs held on to that lead throughout the fourth quarter to take their second win of the week, 64-48 over the Haas Hall-Rogers Danes.

Garcia led the scoring drive with 29 points, a new personal best by one. Girdner was the second-highest Bulldog shooter with nine, followed by Ramirez with seven, Carlos Hernandez with seven, Enrique Rubi with four and Bryson Funk with three. Rounding out the scoring were Zac Luker and Edgar Herrera, each with two.

Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS

Bulldog guard Kevin Garcia finds a clear path to the net and takes it in for a field goal late in the third quarter of the Decatur-Haas Hall Rogers non-conference matchup at Peterson Gym in Decatur Friday night. The Bulldogs won its second straight home game defeating the Danes 64-48.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Bulldog guard Kevin Garcia finds a clear path to the net and takes it in for a field goal late in the third quarter of the Decatur-Haas Hall Rogers non-conference matchup at Peterson Gym in Decatur Friday night. The Bulldogs won its second straight home game defeating the Danes 64-48.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS

The air traffic around the hoop at Peterson Gym in Decatur is full as Kevin Garcia (25) flies through the air to shoot a layup while a Dane player tries to block. Carlos Hernandez waits on the court for a possible rebound. The Bulldogs played host to the Haas Hall Rogers Danes Friday night taking the second win of its season 64-48
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS The air traffic around the hoop at Peterson Gym in Decatur is full as Kevin Garcia (25) flies through the air to shoot a layup while a Dane player tries to block. Carlos Hernandez waits on the court for a possible rebound. The Bulldogs played host to the Haas Hall Rogers Danes Friday night taking the second win of its season 64-48