Bulldogs Even District Record with Win over Tigers

By Will Johnson

Messenger Reporter

CROCKETT – There was no rest for the weary for the Crockett Bulldogs. After playing basketball games in three days, culminating with a 74-67 OT victory against the Diboll Lumberjacks in the Houston County Holiday Tournament on Friday, Dec. 30, the Dawgs were back in action on Tuesday, Jan. 3 against the Trinity Tigers.

In fairness to the Tigers, they had also participated in the Holiday Tournament but from the outset, Trinity appeared to be far less rested than Crockett.

The Tigers only managed to put up 12 first half points while the Dawgs raced out to 32. Trinity opened the game with a three pointer from Trevor Barron but that was the only shot the Tigers hit from the field. Holden Hodge converted two free throws while Fred Rodgers and Kris Vick both made one of two from the line to account for all of the Trinity first quarter points.

In the first eight minutes of play, however, the Dawgs put up 16, as they were led by Lucky Daniels behind four of four shooting from the charity stripe and Jurmond Wooten, with two baskets from the perimeter. Drew Corry nailed a shot from long range for three while Ahmad Brown hit a shot from down low to go along with a free throw. Tyrese Anderson accounted for the other two as Crockett led 16-7 after the first quarter.

The scoring woes for Trinity continued in the second quarter as the Tigers only managed five points on a three from Nolan Hodge and a two pointer from Raymond Franklin.

T

he Dawgs remained consistent with an additional 16 points in the second period. Harvey Stewart led the way for Crockett with five points while Wooten and T. Anderson scored four apiece. B.J. Anderson netted a three ball to close out the first half scoring as Crockett led by a score of 32-12.

After the break, the Trinity offense finally began to find some sort of rhythm as they surpassed their first half total in points with 14. Hodge hit his second three of the game to go along with a two pointer for five points. Vick dropped in four while Franklin drained a shot from behind the arc and Rodgers added two.

Meanwhile, Crockett used a balanced scoring attack as the second half got underway. Wooten led the way with four while Derrick Sherman and Keyshaun Smotherman each dropped in three. A quartet of Bulldogs – T. Anderson, Daniels, Alton Owens and Marcus Shedd – all added two to make the score 50-26 at the end of three.

As the fourth quarter got underway, Crockett Head Coach Kadrian Bryant began to milk the clock. As a result the Dawgs only put up nine points in the final quarter. B.J. Anderson hit his second three of the game and was joined in the scoring column by T. Anderson, Corry and Daniels with two apiece.

Down by 24 with eight minutes left to play, the Tigers attempted to mount a comeback, but their shots would simply not fall as they were only able to score 12. Javonte Oliphant broke into the scoring column with six points on two three pointers and Hodge knocked down three shots from the field for the other six.

For the game, Trinity was led by Nolan Hodge with 14 points. Javonte Oliphant scored six while both Kris Vick and Raymond Franklin had five apiece. Trevor Barron and Fred Rodgers scored three apiece while Holden Hodge rounded out the Tigers’ point production with two.

The Dawgs were led by Jurmond Wooten with 12 and Tyrese Anderson with 10 points. Lucky Daniels netted eight, B.J. Anderson scored six while both Drew Corry and Harvey Stewart had five. Ahmad Brown, Derrick Sherman and Keyshaun Smotherman all chipped in three while both Alton Owens and Marcus Shedd added two to close out the Crockett scoring.

Crockett hit the road on Friday for a district matchup against the Coldspring-Oakhurst Trojans but as of press time, the score was unavailable.

Will Johnson may be contacted via e-mail at [email protected].