Bulldogs clinch spot in Regional
Published 12:56 am Sunday, February 15, 2009
Pike County seniors Tevin Andrews and Quay Bailey have been playing on the Bulldog varsity squad for three years and Friday night the duo carried the Bulldogs into the Class 3A South Regional.
Andrews and Bailey each had 27 points in Pike County’s 80-55 victory over Geneva in the 3A South Sub-Regional in Brundidge.
“I told coach before the game that this was the first time all year we had four good practices in a week and it was because Tevin and Quay led the guys all week and that carried over to tonight,” PCHS head coach Doug Holland said. “They showed great leadership out there and I am just so proud for them to get a chance to advance to regionals.”
Bailey nearly posted a triple-double with 27 points, nine rebounds and 10 assists, but he said he could not have done it without his team.
“I just love my teammates and we practiced hard all week and we got this one,” Bailey said. “I feel so good right now and it is hard to find words since it has been so long since Pike County (went to regionals) and I am just glad to be a part of this team. I love them all.”
Andrews added in 27 points, nine rebounds and three assists on the night.
“It was just a good night for us,” Andrews said. “It seemed like we were all on point tonight and we came out ready to play.”
Bailey and Andrews led the team all game and PCHS (21-7) jumped out to a 26-7 lead at the end of the first quarter and never stopped dominating the Panthers.
“I think we came together as a team tonight,” Holland said. “The full-court pressure worked well all night.”
By halftime the score was 38-24 in favor of the home-standing Bulldogs, but the real pressure came in the second half.
Geneva outscored the Bulldogs in the third quarter, 19-18, but PCHS jumped all over the Panthers in the fourth quarter to the tune of 24-11 to win going away.
Martellis Foster and Jarrod Wilson scored eight points for the Bulldogs and Wilson had nine rebounds and five assists while Foster chipped in seven rebounds. Kendrick Jackson had six points and six rebounds and Jarred Snell and Geralond Knox contributed two points apiece.
It is the first time PCHS has gone to the South Regional in at least 10 years and Holland said it is a great thing for the community.
“We preach the school and the program and this is a great thing for the program,” he said.
And Holland did not do it alone from the bench.
“Coach (Roddrice) Griffin has done a great job all year and he has been there with me all year,” Holland said. “It would be easy for me to take all the credit, but I know that without him we probably would not be where we are.”
The Bulldogs seem to be clicking at the right time and Holland said he is happy about how his team is playing now.
“We preached to them all week that we need to stay focused on the next game,” Holland said. “The area championship was one of our goals and getting to Troy was one of our goals. Now we just have to see how consistent we can stay when we get there.”
The Bulldogs square off with Central-Hayneville Feb. 19 at 4:30 p.m. at Trojan Arena on the campus of Troy University in the 3A Sweet 16.
Click here for a photo gallery of Friday’s action