Lady Bulldogs lose close contest to Lady Panthers in overtime
DECATUR — With three weeks left in the regular season, the Decatur Lady Bulldogs played host to the Yellville-Summit Lady Panthers at Peterson Gym in Decatur Jan. 28 in a conference showdown that sparked excitement in fans on both sides of the bleachers until the very end.
Kyleigh McBride got things started for the Lady Bulldogs with a field goal in the opening minute of play. The Lady Panthers hit their first field goal about a minute later. From there the Lady Bulldogs gained control of the contest and built a slim three-point lead by the end of the first quarter.
The Lady Panthers were unable to gain any ground on the Lady Bulldogs in the second quarter with both teams hitting 13 points each, allowing Decatur to continue its three-point lead going into the halftime break.
Decatur saw its slim lead evaporate as Yellville picked up the pace in the second half, taking a one-point lead by the end of the third quarter. It was anybody’s game during the final eight minutes as neither team played particularly well on the offensive boards. The lead switched hands three times, with the Lady Panthers coming out on top by two with less than 30 seconds left to play. As the clock wound down, the Lady Bulldogs had time for one last chance to hit either a field goal to tie or a three-pointer for the win. Senior Kaylee Morales positioned herself on the right side of the lane and, as time clicked down to zero, launched a shot that hit its mark, sending the game into a four-minute overtime.
In overtime, the momentum switched in favor of the Lady Panthers who hit three field goals while holding the Lady Bulldogs to a single free throw for a Yellville-Summit’s overtime victory, 50-45.
Lady Bulldog sensation Anabelle Schopper continued leading the offense with 17 points, six rebounds and two turnovers. Abby Tilley, who hit three threepoint field goals in the third quarter, finished the night with 11 points and two rebounds. Rounding out the offensive drive for Decatur was Destiny Mejia with six points, three rebounds and four turnovers, followed by Mayra Flores, who had six points, two rebounds and a steal; Kaylee Morales had three points, two rebounds and three turnovers; Kyleigh McBride finished the contest with two points and four rebounds.
The Lady Panthers had four of its five starters in double figures, including Avery Deurmore with 13, Allie Edmonds with 12, Jacy Riddle and Mariah Crespind each with 10. Abby Brantner rounded out the Yellville Summit offensive drive with five.
The Decatur Lady Bulldogs made the long 142mile, three hour trip to Cotter Friday night to face the Lady Warriors in the second conference game of the week. Decatur fell behind early in the second quarter and was unable to recover as the Cotter Lady Warriors took the conference win, 6943, over the Lady Bulldogs.
Lady Bulldog Anabelle Schopper had another double-double, racking up 20 points and 11 rebounds. Abby Tilley had her second straight double with 11 points. Mayra Flores made six points for the night and two rebounds. Kaylee Morales had four points and one rebound, and Destiny Mejia had one point and three rebounds. Kyleigh McBride picked up no points but pulled down three rebounds.
The Lady Bulldogs are now in fifth place with a 1-7 conference record, ahead of Haas Hall Academy Fayetteville in sixth and Arts Academy of Arkansas in seventh, going into the final two weeks of the regular season.