The Pike County Bulldogs and Abbeville Yellowjackets played their second game of the season Tuesday in Brundidge and the score was almost identical to the last time the two teams met, but there was one difference.

This time the Pike County Bulldogs were on the winning side of a 72-44 shellacking. The Bulldogs also handed Abbeville its first loss in area play in the team’s final area game. PCHS (12-5, 4-1 AHSAA Class 3A, Area 4) lost to Abbeville 73-42 Jan. 9 in Abbeville. The Bulldogs wanted the Yellowjackets (16-8, 5-1) to know they were not to be taken lightly.

“We had 38 turnovers the first time against them, but we felt as if we could play with them and we proved that tonight,” PCHS head coach Doug Holland said. “We didn’t play well in that last game, but I felt like we controlled the tempo tonight.”

The No. 6 Yellowjackets scored 18 points in the second quarter, but the PCHS defense only allowed 19 points the entire second half. The Bulldogs also stretched a 37-25 halftime lead to a 28-point blowout by scoring 35 in the second half.

“Toward the end we wanted to do to them what they did to let them know if they played us again that both teams are going to press the tempo,” Holland said. “It wasn’t hard for us to get our kids motivated to play tonight.”

Holland had special praise for his team after the dominating win.

“This was the best I have seen them play all year,” he said.

Pike County came out on fire and led 20-7 by the end of the first quarter. The team’s were pretty much equal in the second quarter, as Abbeville shaved one point off the lead to trail 37-25 at halftime.

But the Bulldogs poured it on in the second half and used a man defense to keep the Yellowjackets flustered. PCHS outscored Abbeville 35-19 in the second half to win going away.

Quay Bailey led the charge with 26 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. Tevin Andrews and Kendrick Jackson both posted a double-double. Andrews had 11 points and 11 rebounds and Jackson posted 11 points, 10 rebounds and four assists.

Jarrod Wilson chipped in eight points, Geralond Knox added six points and Jarred Snell and Martellis Foster had four points apiece. Foster added six rebounds.

The Lady Bulldogs (3-10, 1-4) put up a fight in the second half, but fell to Abbeville 56-26 Tuesday.

Tierra Hall led the Lady Bulldogs with 12 points, five rebounds and two steals. Monique Mills added seven points and six rebounds and Ashley Flowers had five points and 18 rebounds.

Pike County heads to Dale County Friday for the final area game.