Lady Griffins blow past Lady Bulldogs for basketball win

Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS
Jazmine Herrera concentrates on the front of the rim as she prepares to launch a free throw at the basket during the fourth quarter of the Ozark Catholic-Decatur basketball contest in Rogers Nov. 22. Herrera missed the first shot but hit the second for a Lady Bulldog point.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Jazmine Herrera concentrates on the front of the rim as she prepares to launch a free throw at the basket during the fourth quarter of the Ozark Catholic-Decatur basketball contest in Rogers Nov. 22. Herrera missed the first shot but hit the second for a Lady Bulldog point.

ROGERS -- For the second time in five days, the Decatur Lady Bulldogs met on the court to face the Ozark Catholic Lady Griffins in a non-conference contest on Nov. 22 at the Arkansas Athletes Outreach gym in Rogers.

Since the Tontitown-based Ozark Catholic Academy has been in existence only since 2018, the school has yet to have a gym on-site. So it relies on the AAO facilities in either Fayetteville or Rogers for both volleyball and basketball.

The first quarter was almost all defensive as both the Lady Bulldogs and Lady Griffins were unable to get points into the basket. As the time was winding down, Ozark Catholic managed to hit three field goals to take a 6-0 lead into the second quarter.

As the second quarter progressed, the Lady Griffins tripled their first-quarter score to 18 while holding the Lady Bulldogs scoreless until the 2:30 mark, when Naomi Jimenez hit a pair of free throws to put Decatur on the board. Decatur hit a field goal as time counted down. By the end of the first half, the Lady Griffins held a huge lead over the Lady Bulldogs, 27-4.

Decatur played more aggressively in the second half, but the Lady Bulldogs fell far short and the Ozark Catholic Academy Lady Griffins took the win, 51-22.

The Decatur Lady Bulldogs have six games left until the Christmas break. The complete pre-Christmas schedule, including the junior high and boys' contests, are as follows:

11/30: @ Eureka Springs, 5 p.m., 2,3,4.

12/02: St Vincent DePaul@ Rogers, 4:30 p.m, 1,2, both JV's.

12/03: Yellville Summit@Decatur, 5 p.m. 2,3,4.

12/07: Life Way Christian@Decatur, 5 p.m, 2,3,4.

12/10: Decatur@Cotter, 5 p.m, 1,3,4.

12/13: Haas Hall Bentonville@Decatur, 5 p.m, 2,3,4.

12/14: NWA Hornets@Decatur, 5 p.m, 2,6.

12/17 Colors Day -- Arts Academy@Decatur, 5 p.m, 2,3,4.

Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS
Lady Bulldog Heaven McGarrah (center right) and a Lady Griffin player battle for the tipoff during the start of the Ozark Catholic-Decatur varsity basketball contest at the Arkansas Athletes Outreach gym in Rogers Nov. 22. The ball went to the Lady Griffins.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Lady Bulldog Heaven McGarrah (center right) and a Lady Griffin player battle for the tipoff during the start of the Ozark Catholic-Decatur varsity basketball contest at the Arkansas Athletes Outreach gym in Rogers Nov. 22. The ball went to the Lady Griffins.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS
Lady Bulldog Naomi Jimenez (left) goes up for a rebound during the Nov. 22 Ozark Catholic Academy-Decatur varsity girls basketball contest at the Arkansas Athletes Outreach gym in Rogers. The Lady Griffins took the win 51-24 over the Lady Bulldogs.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Lady Bulldog Naomi Jimenez (left) goes up for a rebound during the Nov. 22 Ozark Catholic Academy-Decatur varsity girls basketball contest at the Arkansas Athletes Outreach gym in Rogers. The Lady Griffins took the win 51-24 over the Lady Bulldogs.