Sports Editor

In the past four meetings between the Goshen Eagles and the Pike County Bulldogs on the basketball court, the game has usually been decided in the final eight minutes of play.

That wasn’t the case on Saturday night in Brundidge.

The Eagles jumped out to a 28-6 lead in the first quarter and never let Pike County climb back into it as Goshen and took their third win of the season, 64-43.

Which makes one wonder: could this be the year Coach Major Lane and his squad return to Birmingham?

The Eagles clearly seem to be the team to beat in Class 2A Area 2 and have looked dominating in their first three games of the season. Senior forward Jamar Tucker is playing like a 7-footer instead of the 6-foot-4 he really is. The Bulldogs had no answer for Tucker on Saturday night, who swatted the ball at will and grabbed rebound after rebound. Kendaris Pelton made tough shots look easy, as he sliced his way inside the lane to float in an easy 2-point basket. Averick Rogers looked comfortable running the point, but still was able to hit those consistent 3-pointers that have become his trademark.

After losing two point guards to graduation in Willie Darby and Larry Nichols, the Eagles needed to find a replacement quickly this year. It looks to have found one in Rogers, as well as Reggie Ginyard who saw extensive playing time last season before a knee injury sidelined him.

What has been real impressive so far this year is the play of Jeremy Berry and Darius Flowers. Both players spent most of the season on the bench last year, but thus far in 2000 have played like veterans in the starting lineup.

"They’re (Berry and Flowers) playing with a lot of fire in them," said Lane. "And the thing is they are only going to get better."

Lane said he has been pleased how his team has responded this season.

"What really stands out to me this year is how aggressive we are playing," he said. "We like to use our quickness to create easy shot opportunities and we’ve been shooting the ball well this season."

As for Pike County, Coach David Buehler’s team now turn their attention to area play. The Bulldogs opened with Luverne on Monday night.

However, Pike County will still have Goshen in the back of their minds since the Bulldogs and the Eagles square off for the second time on Feb. 1.

With the addition of Michael Walker after Christmas to a team that will only get better, one wonders how good Pike County will be by then.

Especially with last Saturday’s loss as a motivating factor.