Cold shooting leads Dawgs to loss column
By GEORGIA PURDY

THOUGH HE MAY be surrounded, Jasper's Aaron Garrett snares a rebound during the LCM contest.The Bulldogs lost the contest in overtime 65- 64. Newsboy photo/ Georgia Purdy

Cold shooting put the Jasper Bulldogs in the loss column for the second week in a row; however, there were great moments, especially in the 65-64 overtime loss to Little Cypress- Mauriceville Nov. 28.

After a bleak first quarter, ending 15-7, it looked like the Bears' height advantage would keep them in control. They continued to claw up another seven putting Jasper at a 26-7 disadvantage in the second period until senior Allen Coleman broke the spell with a threepointer.

Roderick Kyles dropped in two and Christian Goff, who just moved up from JV, followed with a trey. Goff then pumped in two more from the sideline and Jasper threated for the first time, trailing 29-21 with 3:30 remaining in the half.

Coleman dumped in two more points, followed by a bucket from Aaron Garrett. Goff struck again, hitting his fourth three-pointer out of six attempts. Roman Land scored two in the final seconds, leaving the 'Dogs trailing 33-30 and outscoring the Bears 23-18 in the second period.

JASPER FRESHMAN Dominique Bailey drives around a LC-M defender during the Bulldogs 65-64 overtime loss last Tuesday.

In the third quarter, neither team scored for almost three minutes and then played almost even. LC-M put 13 more on the board to Jasper's 12.

In the fourth quarter, the 'Dogs fell behind by six points until Land hit a three-pointer, putting the score at 56-53 with 1:18 on the clock. Land followed with another trey to tie the game 56-56. LC-M came back with another bucket, and with seconds left, Kyles dumped two points to put the game in overtime at 58-58.

The overtime period proved to be another nail-biter. Desmond Smith and Garrett scored, followed by Kyles to put the 'Dogs ahead 64-60. Then the Bears forced a turnover that cost two points and Jasper's two misses at the free throw line left the game tied at 64-64 with only seconds on the clock. LCM fired a three-point shot that ended the game 65-64.

"We've got to shoot better," Coach Terry Young said. "We only hit four of 17 at the free throw line and you can't do that and win. Defensively, we are doing a better job."

JASPER SENIOR Allen Coleman sparked the Bulldogs' rally against LC-M with a three-point bucket early in the second quarter. Coleman, who played on the junior varsity last year, teamed with Christian Goff to score 18 of Jasper 23 second-quarter points.

Land and Goff shared high point honors with 12 each. Land also had eight assists, two blocks, two deflections, nine defensive rebounds, two offensive and nine steals. Goff had two defensive and offensive rebounds, one assist, one deflection and one dive to the floor.

Kyles shot 11 points with three charges drawn, one dive to the floor, one defensive rebound and three offensive rebounds. Keith Graham had eight points, one assist, two deflections, five offensive rebounds and two defensive, and one dive to the floor.

Dominique also had eight points with two assists and one offensive rebound. Coleman had five points, one assist and one offensive rebound. Garrett contributed three points, three assists, four deflections, three dives to the floor, on defensive and one offensive rebound, and three steals. Desmond Smith got one block with two points and one assist.

ROMAN LAND drives to the bucket and avoids a charge call during Jasper's 65-64 loss to LC-M.The Bulldogs dropped three contests in the Huntington tournament as they prepare for the start of District 21-3A. Newsboy photo/Georgia Purdy

Jasper posted three losses at the Huntington tournament over the weekend: 54-47 to Huntington; 43-38 to Buffalo; and 51-40 to Woden.

"We led Buffalo for three quarters," Young said. "They scored 22 to our 12 in the fourth quarter and we were only one for 10 at the freethrow line. We played good defense in the tournament but our field goal percentage was down. Missed free throws continue to be a problem."

Land was high point in the first game, with 19; Graham was high with 10 against Buffalo; no one was in double digits against Woden.

"Woden is very good, a well disciplined team," Young said. "In that game, we were only one for 20 at the free throw line. It's hard to win when you are shooting that bad. Fifteen of their points came from free throws."

Young said that Jasper's defense was the best it has been this season, but the offense is still not where it needs to be.

"Danterio Anderson stood out on defense this weekend," Young said. We need the type of energy we saw from him over the weekend."

He will be moving some players around. Kwame Spikes will come up from JV and he also wants to look at Cameron Stubblefield.

"Our energy level must pick up. We have to be up every time we play in order to compete in this district. I'm not at all discouraged. The LC-M game showed that we are certainly capable with offensive production when you see guys step up like that."

Junior varsity lost 44-38 even though the outscored the Bears in three quarters. Kwame Spikes led with 17 points; Ryan Gaston had eight, followed by Malcom Bronson with five.

The freshman team lost 31-18. Kadaroe Rawls was high point shooter.

The Bulldogs were playing Pollack-Central at home last night and will compete in the YMBL/BISD tournament at Westbrook High School in Beaumont Dec. 7-9. Jasper plays Beaumont Central at 4 p.m. Thursday.

They will play Newton at home Dec. 12 following the varsity girls game.