Bulldogs start the season right

DECATUR — The crowd went wild as the Decatur varsity Bulldog basketball team took to the Vernon Austin court at PetersonOwens Fieldhouse in Decatur Friday night for the 2022-23 season opener against a new opponent to the Northwest Arkansas scene, the Fort Smith Patriots. By the end of the 48-minute contest, the Bulldogs emerged with their first victory of the new season.

Fort Smith struck first with a field goal with just under 10 seconds into the first quarter. On its next possession, the Bulldogs hit a three-pointer to take the early lead. From this point, the Bulldogs began pulling away from the Patriots, but a late run by Fort Smith put them within four points at the end of the first half.

Decatur maintained a slim lead over Fort Smith throughout much of the third, leading by 12 points going into the final quarter.

The Fort Smith Patriots tried to stage a comeback, but the stronger Decatur Bulldogs kept forging ahead, winning the contest, 63-48.

Leading the scoring for the first contest of the season was Jackson Monteno with 18, followed by Deegan Brooks with 15 and Ben Watkins with 13. Other Bulldogs scoring during the contest included JJ Herrera with seven, Devin Thor with five, Brian Ruiz with three, and Dayton McGarrah with two.

The Bulldogs will be back in action the week of Nov.14, hosting the Decatur Invitational Basketball Tournament at PetersonOwens Fieldhouse in Decatur through Nov. 19.

For more information, go to the district website at decatursd.com.

Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Devin Thor makes his move towards the basket around a Patriot defender during the Friday night Decatur-Fort Smith varsity basketball contest at Peterson-Owens Fieldhouse in Decatur.

Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Bulldog Deegan Brooks (11) puts up a shot high off the glass during the Friday night Decatur-Fort Smith basketball contest in Decatur. Brooks hit 15 points.