BRUNDIDGE – The Pike County Bulldogs had two chances to tie the game in the final seconds, but both shots rolled off the rim and the Carroll Eagles escaped with a 48-45 win.

The game against 6A Carroll was a low-scoring one.

“We always schedule up,” said Bulldogs head coach Doug Holland. “I don’t expect them to come out and do anything but give 100 percent effort. They did that tonight. We just fell short.”

The Bulldogs managed to score only seven points in the opening quarter after briefly holding a 6-5 lead.

“Some of it could be attributed to their defense,” Holland said. “They have some long athletic guys. They pushed out on the floor to where we couldn’t get in our offensive sets. They forced us to take a lot of shots that we didn’t want to take, especially early.”

Deshon Cowling got the Bulldogs started with consecutive three-pointers to give the Bulldogs the early lead. In the second quarter Cowling got the Bulldogs going with consecutive baskets including his third three-pointer in the half.

With Carroll up 16-12 the Bulldogs, went on an 8-0 run and by halftime they had a 25-21 lead.

The Eagles quickly gained control in the third quarter, scoring six unanswered points and regaining the lead. The Bulldogs only managed to score three points in the quarter and trailed 35-29 heading into the fourth.

The Bulldogs battled back and with 3:45 remaining in the ball game Kamari Jackson drained a three to even the score at 41.

The Bulldogs stretched the lead back to four points with 1:30 remaining until Cowling knocked down another three, putting the Bulldogs within a point.

After both teams converted on free throws, Pike County had a chance to tie the game with 10 seconds remaining, but Jahmir Lampley’s shot clanked off the iron forcing Pike County to foul. The Eagles missed the front end of the one and one giving senior Cowling one final shot at evening the score. Once again his shot rolled off the rim giving the Eagles the win.

“We talk about finishing strong,” Holland said. “During this time of the year you want to be clicking, and I think they are starting to understand that.”

The Bulldogs will be back in action on Thursday evening when they travel to take on rival Charles Henderson at 7:30 p.m.