Dawgs keep 3A playoff hopes alive
"It just seems as though everyone in the district is playing us tough and giving us their best shot." - Jasper Coach Terry Young
By GEORGIA PURDY Newsboy Correspondent

Newsboy photo/Georgia Purdy JASPER'S DJ JACKSON soars high to snag a rebound during last week's contest with Bridge City. Jasper defeated Bridge City 69-61 to stay in third place in district and keep their playoff hopes alive. Jasper stands at 7-2 in District 21-3A play behind Silsbee and Hardin-Jefferson.

Jasper boys' varsity basketball kept their hopes alive for a playoff spot last week, beating out Hamshire-Fannett 57-56 on the road and Bridge City 69-61 at home. Both were second round wins.

"It was a tough night for us at Hamshire- Fannett but Kwame Spikes caught the ball with five seconds left and created enough space to shoot over several Longhorns to hit the winning shot with 1.9 seconds on the clock," Coach Terry Young said. "It just seems as though everyone in the district is playing us tough and giving us their best shot."

Dominique Bailey, the Bulldogs' outstanding shooting guard, injured his right thumb but Young said Spikes stepped up to fill the gap.

"With Bailey injured, Spikes seemed to flourish in the leadership role and never backed down from taking the tough shot," Young said.

Jasper led 19-18 at the end of the first period and was up 41-34 at the half. The squads played almost even in the third, the Bulldogs sinking 11 points, to the Longhorns' 12.

The fourth quarter was low scoring; H-F with 10 and holding Jasper to only five points.

Bailey was held to 11 total points; Roderick Kyles had 14; followed by Jaren Bronson, eight. DJ Jackson and Cameron Stubblefield also contributed.

In the Bridge City win, Jasper trailed through the first half 15-12 and 28-26 at the half.

The 'Dogs came back in the third with 21 points to the Cardinals' 12, taking a 47-20 lead at the end of the period.

But the Bulldogs didn't have it locked down yet. Both teams played an excellent fourth quarter. Bridge City put up 21 points but Jasper answered with 22 to secure the victory.

Bailey led Jasper's effort with 22 points, followed by Spikes, 18; Kyles, 10; Jackson, 8; Stubblefield, 5; and Christian Goff, 2. Bridge City's Dillon was high point with 23. Teammate Sanchez scored 18.

Jasper's record is now 11-14 on the year and 7-2 in the district. The two losses came at the hands of Silsbee and Hardin- Jefferson in the first district round.

"Even though we have won games by only a slim margin against people we thought would be much easier opponents," Young said, "we think the positive thing is that we have learned how to win the close games and that's always a plus."

Jasper played West Orange-Stark last night and will be on the road Friday night against district leader Hardin -Jefferson.