Dawgs drop pair of district contests
By GEORGIA PURDY Newsboy Correspondent

Newsboy photo/Willis Webb AARON GARRETT drives the lane for a bucket against Hardin-Jefferson last week. H-J defeated Jasper 85-73.

The Jasper Bulldogs couldn't muster a win last week, ending in the loss column with both Hardin-Jefferson, 85-73, and Silsbee, 66-47. That brings their season record to 7-14 and 3-2 in district standings.

Dominique Bailey's 26 points couldn't bail Jasper out of a bad situation with Hardin-Jefferson last Tuesday night. The Hawks' defense seemed to keep the 'Dogs off-balance and even without two of their top players who were out sick, Bernard stepped up to score 38 points.

"Going into the game, we knew we had to stop Bernard who ended up with 38 points," Coach Terry Young said. "Our goal has been to find a defender that can lock-up the other team's best player. Last year they had their best player out and this year they had two and I was disappointed that we couldn't pull out a victory under these circumstances."

Jasper got behind 32-11 by the end of the first quarter, a deficit that could not be overcome. By the half, they were down 56- 29.

Newsboy photo/Willis Webb JASPER'S RODERICK KYLES goes up for two points during last Friday's contest with Hardin-Jefferson. Kyles finished the night with 12 points

"Our game plan was to handle their relentless pressure," Young said. "Since we had difficulty converting in the halfcourt, we extended our defense to a fullcourt 1-3-1 press and they turned the ball over to us and this allowed us to make a huge run."

The 'Dogs earned 14 points to the Hawks' 15 in the third quarter to end behind 71-46.

In the fourth period, Jasper did turn up the heat, scoring 27 points to Hardin Jefferson's 14, but it wasn't enough to change the 85- 73outcome.

"The objective of their press and any press is to force turnovers, but what some people don't realize is how effective the press can be at taking your team out of what you feel comfortable doing in the halfcourt," Young said. "I commend HJ because what they do, they do it well and go at it with 100 percent intensity."

In addition to Bailey's 26 points, Kwame Spikes and Roderick Kyles were in double digits. Spikes had 12 and Kyles, 10.

The 66-47 loss to Silsbee Friday night was perhaps more of a let-down. Young said he expected his team to play better than they did.

"Even though it's always tough playing Silsbee, I really thought we would play a much better game," he said. "Our goal was to contain Robinson and Howard, and to Silsbee's kids' credit, other players stepped up their games and that's what winning basketball is about."

Bailey was high-point scorer for Jasper with 18 points. He also had one offensive rebound, one defensive rebound, three assists, and two steals.

Spikes scored 13 points with three assists, two steals, and one charge drawn. William Ellis had eight points, six defensive rebounds and one charge drawn.

Jaren Bronson had four points, one offensive rebound, one assist and one steal; Aaron Garrett, one offensive and two defensive rebounds, and three assists; DJ Jackson, two points, one offensive and one defensive rebound and two assists; Christian Goff, two defensive rebounds, one steal and one charge drawn; Cameron Stubblefield, two points.

Jasper was four for 14 or 28 percent at the free-throw line.

"We will continue to make personnel adjustments and game plans specifically for each district opponent in hopes of fulfilling our goal of reaching the playoffs," Young said.

They played Kirbyville last night and will meet Orangefield Friday on the road. They begin the second round of district play at home, Tuesday, Jan. 22 against Bridge City. The freshman game begins at 5 p.m. with JV and varsity to follow.