Westside Eagle-Observer

Bulldogs, Pioneers, Highlander­s play in Summer Classic

- By Mike Eckels meckels@nwadg.com

DECATUR — The Decatur Summer Classic boys’ basketball tournament continued June 14 at Peterson Gym in Decatur. Participan­ts in last week’s tournament included the host team, the Decatur Bulldogs, and the Gentry Pioneers and Eureka Springs Highlander­s.

Up first were the Bulldogs and the Pioneers in a rematch game from June 7 when Gentry took the victory.

For Brent Hester, the Bulldog-Pioneer game marked his first appearance as Gentry’s new boys’ basketball coach.

The Bulldogs put the first two points on the board at the 16:30 mark in the first half and maintained the lead throughout the half, taking a 4-point lead into the halftime break, 13-9.

Decatur continued to dominate Gentry, taking a 19-11 lead three minutes into the second half. However, the Pioneers mounted an 8-0 run to tie at 19 with less than 8 minutes in the game. The game remained tied until the 1:30 minute mark when Decatur hit a two. With less than 30 seconds left, the Bulldogs, still up by two points, took control of the ball. Decatur ran the clock out, taking the victory, 25-23.

The Pioneers took on the Highlander­s of Eureka Springs in the second game of the evening. The game remained scoreless for the first five minutes until Gentry put the first points on the scoreboard at the 12-minute mark. The lead changed hands several times until the close of the first half when Gentry put up two to tie the game at 16-all.

It was all Eureka Springs in the second half as the Highlander­s built as much as a 10-point lead. In the end, the Highlander­s took the win, 35-27.

The Bulldogs were back in action, taking on the Highlander­s in the final full game of the night. Eureka Springs scored first at the 13:59 mark, followed immediatel­y by the Bulldogs with two. The Bulldogs took the lead in the next series with a threepoint shot by Leng Lee. Eureka Springs regained and held the lead, 19-11, going into the break.

The Highlander­s continued to lead in the second half, posting as much as an 11-point lead at the 8:53 mark. With 30 seconds left to play, a three pointer gave the Bulldogs a one-point advantage. With three seconds left in the game, the Highlander­s regained the lead on two free throws and took the game, 42-40.

In a two minute shoot out, the Bulldogs finally defeated the Highlander­s by three. This was Decatur’s first victory against Eureka Springs all summer. Eureka earned the victory in the second and final shoot out of the night.

The Decatur Summer Classic will continue in July. For more informatio­n and dates of the summer classic, go to decatursd.com/athletics.

 ?? Photo by Mike Eckels ?? Decatur’s Bracy Owens (1) jumps high over two Gentry players as he attempts a shot from the left baseline during the Decatur-Gentry basketball game at Peterson Gym in Decatur on June 14. Decatur posted its first win in the Decatur Summer Classic by...
Photo by Mike Eckels Decatur’s Bracy Owens (1) jumps high over two Gentry players as he attempts a shot from the left baseline during the Decatur-Gentry basketball game at Peterson Gym in Decatur on June 14. Decatur posted its first win in the Decatur Summer Classic by...
 ?? Photo by Mike Eckels ?? Decatur’s Marck Guadarrama (24) breaks away from a Eureka Springs player for a layup during the Bulldog- Highlander basketball game at Peterson Gym in Decatur on June 14. Decatur, Eureka Springs and Gentry all participat­ed in the second round of the...
Photo by Mike Eckels Decatur’s Marck Guadarrama (24) breaks away from a Eureka Springs player for a layup during the Bulldog- Highlander basketball game at Peterson Gym in Decatur on June 14. Decatur, Eureka Springs and Gentry all participat­ed in the second round of the...
 ?? Photo by Mike Eckels ?? Jamon Mathis, right, a Gentry sophomore, goes up to block a shot by a Eureka Springs player during the basketball camp held in Decatur last week.
Photo by Mike Eckels Jamon Mathis, right, a Gentry sophomore, goes up to block a shot by a Eureka Springs player during the basketball camp held in Decatur last week.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States