Rockets take off to 73-39 win against Bulldogs
DECATUR — New head basketball coach Fess Thompson began building his “Bulldog Basketball Legacy” Thursday night during his team’s 2019-20 varsity season opener at Peterson Gym. Unfortunately, the contest was less than what Thompson expected as the Bulldogs lost by 34.
The Bulldogs faced a relatively new opponent in the Thursday contest. Decatur played the Future School of Fort Smith in its first encounter during the Lincoln Tournament on Nov. 20, 2018. Under previous coach John Unger, the Bulldogs lost to the Rockets by 17 points. Hoping history would not repeat itself,
Thompson spent extra practice time on shooting and defensive strategies. But the Rockets had other ideas for their second meeting with the Decatur Bulldogs.
After taking the opening tip-off, the Rockets drove toward the basket and, within 10 seconds, scored the first two points of the night. The Bulldogs answered with two on their opening drive of the game. About four minutes into the first quarter, the Bulldogs hit a two to gain the lead for the first time.
Decatur appeared to be in control of the contest and began building on its lead. But, as suddenly as it began, the Bulldogs’ shooting went cold, allowing the Rockets to tie and eventually regain the lead to end the quarter up by two.
Decatur’s problems were far from over. The Rockets held the Bulldogs to 13 points while continuing to build their lead to 23 by the halftime break.
The Bulldogs were never able to recover their shooting game in the second half and the Rockets held on to hand the Bulldogs their first loss of the new season, 73-39.
The Decatur Bulldogs were to square off against the St. Paul Saints in a 7 p.m. varsity game at Peterson Gym in Decatur on Tuesday. They travel south to Gentry to take on the Pioneers in their first road game of the season at 7 p.m. on Friday.