Lady Bulldogs lose to Lady Engineers
DECATUR — The Decatur Lady Bulldogs played one of their hardestfought battles to date against the Watts, Okla., Lady Engineers. The result? One of the most exciting games of the season at Peterson Gym in Decatur was played Dec. 19.
The two teams tangled earlier on Nov. 14 in Watts, with the Lady Engineers pulling out in front late in the second quarter. Decatur came within five several times in the second half, but the Lady Engineers won, 59-47.
The Dec. 19 contest began much the same, with the Lady Bulldogs taking command of the first quarter early. But a two-point basket near the buzzer gave Watts a single -point lead at the end of the quarter. Decatur fell off the pace in the second quarter, allowing the Lady Engineers to take a 32-22 lead at the half.
The first eight minutes of the second half was an even contest, with both teams hitting 13 points. Just before the buzzer ending the quarter, with less than 3 seconds on the clock and the Lady Bulldogs down by 13, Destiny Mejia launched a long bomb from well outside the three-point line. The ball hit its mark, pulling Decatur to within 10.
As the fourth quarter began, Watts hit a set of two-point shots, moving ahead of Decatur by 14. But as the quarter progressed, the Lady Bulldogs hit their stride and made 11 of 12 shots from the free-throw line, with Mejia sinking seven of eight free throws. Two three-pointers from Abby Tilley and Paige Vann, who added a two-pointer, allowed Decatur to amass 19 points, one of its highest single-quarter point totals this season.
Decatur would cut the lead to seven midway through the half. But a series of defensive mistakes allowed Watts to build a 15-point lead. The Lady Bulldogs continued to keep pace with the Lady Engineers, cutting Watts’ lead to 13 by the end. The Lady Engineers walked away with the victory over the Lady Bulldogs, 67-54.
Three Lady Bulldogs scored in double figures. Vann led the team with 15, followed by Mejia with 13 and Tilley with 10. Rounding out Decatur’s scoring effort was Sammie Skaggs with eight, Kaylee Morales with seven, and Jackie Herrera with two.
Vann hit 10 of 10 freethrow attempts. Mejia hit 10 of 14 from the freethrow line.
Overall, the Lady Bulldogs turned in one of their best free-throw performances in over three years, hitting 84 percent from the line.
The Decatur junior high girls’ basketball team nearly pulled off a victory, leading Watts through 3½ quarters of play. But Watts tied it at 23-all with 30 seconds left in the game. Watts took the lead with 15 seconds left. Decatur had two chances to regain the lead on two Watts turnovers but was unable to capitalize on the mistake, giving Watts a 25-23 win.
Both Decatur teams will be in action again Dec. 29 at Centerton and take on the junior and senior high Life Way Lady Warriors. Game time for the junior high game is 4 p.m., with the senior contest at 6 p.m.