Westside Eagle-Observer

Decatur takes two victories at Colcord basketball scrimmages

- MIKE ECKELS meckels@nwadg.com

COLCORD, Okla. — “Don’t be afraid to shoot the ball” was the message John Unger, boys’ basketball coach, imparted to his players, the Decatur boys’ varsity basketball team, after losing the first 20 minute game of the Colcord scrimmages at Earp Gym in Colcord on June 21.

Decatur led the first game by six early on but went cold five minutes into the contest, allowing the Hornets to push ahead and take control of the remainder of the game. Colcord took the victory, 23-12.

Unger’s words were heeded by his young players and they were able to take game three, 35-19.

Exhaustion set in during game five as both teams struggled to maintain enough energy to shoot the ball. But the Bulldogs were able to take control of the contest and held the Hornets to only two points during the final 20 minutes of the varsity session. Decatur pulled off the win by defeating Colcord, 7-2.

In junior high action, the small and less experience­d Decatur team faced a stronger and more experience­d Colcord Hornet team. The Junior Hornets dominated and claimed victory in all three contests, 35-29, 26-2 and 9-4, over the Decatur Junior Bulldogs.

The Decatur Bulldogs will be off for the next two weeks for a vacation period mandated by the Arkansas Activity Associatio­n. They will return to practice at Peterson Gym after the Independen­ce Day observance.

 ?? Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS ?? Kevin Garcia (Decatur 24) and Ryan Ross (Decatur 13) try to prevent a Hornet player from making a layup during the fifth game of the Colcord Scrimmage at Earp Gym in Colcord, Okla., on June 21.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Kevin Garcia (Decatur 24) and Ryan Ross (Decatur 13) try to prevent a Hornet player from making a layup during the fifth game of the Colcord Scrimmage at Earp Gym in Colcord, Okla., on June 21.
 ?? Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS ?? Tafari James (Decatur 13) puts up a layup during the third game of the Colcord scrimmage matches at Earp Gym in Colcord, Okla., on June 21.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Tafari James (Decatur 13) puts up a layup during the third game of the Colcord scrimmage matches at Earp Gym in Colcord, Okla., on June 21.
 ?? Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS ?? Decatur’s Tafari James (back, center) dribbles the basketball far in front of him as he and teammate Ryan Ross (Decatur 13) transition to offense in the third game of the Colcord-Decatur scrimmage at Colcord on June 21.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Decatur’s Tafari James (back, center) dribbles the basketball far in front of him as he and teammate Ryan Ross (Decatur 13) transition to offense in the third game of the Colcord-Decatur scrimmage at Colcord on June 21.

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