Lady Rockets bombard Lady Bulldogs in season opener
DECATUR — Coming off one of its best seasons since 1999, the Decatur Lady Bulldogs and second-year coach Fess Thompson hoped to repeat their 2018-19 performance with a season opener win. But, it was not to be for the Lady Bulldogs.
Decatur opened its season against a new opponent, the Future School of Fort Smith Lady Rockets, at Peterson Gym in Decatur Thursday night. The Decatur varsity boys had faced the Future School last season in Lincoln, but the varsity girls faced this team for the first time.
The Lady Rockets took control of the opening tipoff but were unable to capitalize on their first possession. However, Abby Tilley put up a three-pointer from the left wing for the game’s first points and the lead for Decatur. A pair of two-pointers by Lady Rockets’ leading scorer Taliyah Clayton put Future School up by one. The Lady Bulldogs were able to come back and tie the game at six all a few minutes later before the Lady Rockets launched a major offensive that propelled them into the lead by four at the end of the first quarter.
Decatur’s offense went flat in the second quarter, only scoring two points, while Future School extended its lead by 20 at the end of the first half.
The Lady Bulldogs offense managed to come alive in the second half. But it fell short in the end as the Future School of Fort Smith Lady Rockets claimed the victory, 52-23, over the Decatur Lady Bulldogs.
The Lady Bulldogs return to Peterson Gym in Decatur Nov. 19 to face the St. Paul Lady Saints in a 6 p.m. contest. Decatur will hit the road Nov. 22 for a short six-mile trip to Gentry to face the Lady Pioneers at Pioneer Gym in another 6 p.m. game.