There is a reason the free throw line is known as the charity stripe.

A shot from the line is supposed to be an automatic bucket. A quick flip of the wrist, and swoosh. One point. Repeat the process over again. Another point.

However, for the Pike County Bulldogs trips to the free throw line have gone worse than any Griswold family vacation.

Holland, a veteran of the hardwood, knows only one way to fix the problem.

“We got to keep practicing,” Holland said. “The only way we can get better at the line is to keep shooting and build confidence. The guys have to expect to make the shots when they toe up to the line. Our confidence isn’t very high at the free throw line right now, so that has been our main focus this week.”

Pike County nears the half-way point of the season at 4-2, with wins over Goshen, New Brockton, Samson and G.W. Long. However, the Bulldogs have not had good nights from the free-throw line even in wins.

“We beat New Brockton and G.W. Long, but still didn’t shoot free throws well,” Holland said. “I think we shot around 52 or 52 percent. That just won’t get the job done. We have spent a lot of time shooting free throws this week, because we know there will be games that those points will be huge.”

Pike County will take part in a tournament this weekend in Geneva county featuring one of the top teams in the state of Alabama.

The Geneva Panthers, winners of the Goshen Holiday Tournament, are 15-0 through the early part of the season.

Holland’s team wants to have a good showing all weekend, but especially Monday night against the Panthers.

“Our guys like to play the best to see how we stack up, and Geneva is the best in the area right now,” said Holland. “We are excited, but know we have business to take care of before we play them on Monday. We are going to take it one game and one quarter at time.”