The Pike County Bulldogs stole the momentum Saturday night and never gave it back. Kendrick Jackson scored the opening points of the game on an alley oop and the Bulldogs ran away with a 77-29 victory in Goshen.

“Being cross-town rivals, I knew we both were going to be up for tonight,” PCHS head coach Doug Holland said. “I think we looked focused tonight from the opening tip.”

Jonathan Deveridge knew his team was in trouble when Jackson slammed the opening basket home.

“When they caught that alley oop dunk on the tipoff I knew then it was going to be one of those nights,” Deveridge, the GHS head coach, said.

Deveridge tried to slow the momentum down with a quick timeout 20 seconds into the game, but it did not work.

The Bulldogs (17-7) pressured the Eagles into early mistakes and took advantage, gaining a 23-7 lead after the first quarter.

The Eagles could not find an answer for what Pike County was throwing at them and found themselves in a 50-18 hole at the halftime break. Goshen could not get out of that hole in the second half, scoring only 11 points to the Bulldogs’ 27.

“We wanted to get back on the winning side tonight since we have dropped two of the last four we played,” Holland said. “We wanted to come in here and get a win and get ready for the area tournament Thursday.”

Establish a win is exactly what Pike County did and the starters played scarcely in the second half on the Bulldog side. The Bulldogs pushed the lead to 66-21 after three quarters and outscored Goshen 11-7 in the final frame for the final of 77-29.

“I feel like we are getting worse as a team heading into the area tournament, not better, and that is not a good thing,” Deveridge said. “I have told them I can deal with losing when we compete, but I really don’t feel like we competed tonight.”

Tevin Andrews led the Bulldogs with 14 points, five rebounds and five assists. Martellis Foster added 13 points and eight rebounds. Jarrod Wilson chipped in 11 points, four rebounds and two assists.

Quay Bailey had eight points, eight rebounds and seven assists. Jackson had eight points and four rebounds. Jarred Snell had seven points and four rebounds, Geralond Knox added seven points and Deandre Mathis and CC Griffin had four points apiece.

Tyrese Wingard led the Eagles with eight points. Reginald Foster and Antwan Boswell added six points apiece and Austin Bennett had four points.

This was the final regular season game for both squads and they will both open area tournament play Friday.

The Bulldogs head to Abbeville to square off with Dale County Friday at 5 p.m.

The Eagles hit the road for Reeltown and a game against Highland Home at 5 p.m. Friday.