By Heather Minton

Thursday night, the Pike County High School Varsity Basketball teams travelled to

Cottonwood for a Bulldog vs. Bear Show Down. The Lady Dawgs took the court first.

The ladies struggled with turnovers at the beginning of the game, turning over their first

three possessions. After the beginning struggles and getting down by four points, the

ladies began to play their game. At the half, they went in down by only two points. “In

the locker room I told the ladies that I knew they could win,” said Aaron Young, Head

Coach of the Lady Dawgs, “and they came out in the 2nd half and did just that.”

The second half was a back and forth battle with several lead changes. With less than

two minutes left in the game the Bulldogs took the lead and didn’t look back. They held

on to beat the Bears 38-34.

Precious Vaznain led all scorers with 13 points, nine of those coming from beyond the

arc. Keeyah Rodgers was strong at the free-throw line and on defense and put up nine

points. Zantavia Kimbrough was a leader on the floor and added 8 points.

“Overall I was impressed with the effort the girls gave in the 2nd half,” Young said.

The Varsity Boys came out on fire after the girl’s game. The Bulldogs were up 6-0 with

only :50 played in the game and up 10-0 after only 2:00. However, the Bears then went

on an 11-4 run over the Bulldogs. At the end of the first period the score was 14-11. The

Bulldogs cold streak continued in the second period only managing nine points, while

the Bears put up another 11. At halftime the Bulldogs went into the locker room with

only a 1 point lead.

“At the half I just reminded our boys that they had come out strong and played well, but

then got soft. I told them they had to get back to playing their game,” said Head Coach

Doug Holland.

In the second half, the Bulldogs came out strong and put up a substantial lead. At the

end of the third period they were up 49-37. The forth period was by far the Bulldogs best

quarter of play all season. They put up 23 points in the final period while allowing the

Bears to only score 9.

Jerrell Lawson had a triple-double for the night with 12 points, 13 rebounds and 10

assists. He is emerging as a strong leader on the floor. Kamari Jackson was once again

the leading scorer with 25 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists. Deshon Cowling is

continuing to prove himself on the court, he put up 18 points, along with 8 assists, 5

rebounds and 5 steals. He has becoming a strong leader on defense for the Bulldogs.

Stevie Smiley also had a great game putting up a double-double with 12 points and 12

rebounds and 5 blocks.

“I was pleased with our playing in the 2nd half,” Holland said. “We settled down and

came out and played our game.”

The Bulldogs will take the court again on Saturday against the Goshen Eagles at home

beginning at 4:30. They will also be playing in the CHHS Holiday Tournament next

week.