Belgreen boys fall to Decatur Heritage
J.R. Tidwell/FCT Senior Tyler Medina (14) of Belgreen looks to make a pass against Decatur Heritage Friday night in Belgreen.
BELGREEN— The Belgreen Bulldogs boy’s varsity basketball team had its 2011-2012 basketball season ended by a 48-38 loss — only the Bulldogs’ third of the season — to the Decatur Heritage Christian Academy Eagles Friday night at home.
Belgreen kept a small lead for most of the game before halftime, but Decatur Heritage went on top early in the third quarter and never relinquished the lead.
“We had opportunities but we couldn’t hit shots,” Belgreen head coach Greg Watson said. “I’m proud of them. We have five seniors, and this is a special team. They have great chemistry.”
The Bulldogs had a 4-0 lead at the midpoint of the first quarter. Decatur Heritage battled back, and the teams swapped leads in an intense match that went basket by basket early on.
Neither team rushed up and down the court, and each looked for open shots on offense while moving the ball around.
Belgreen took a 15-14 lead into intermission, but the Eagles would quickly take control of the game after the break.
Decatur Heritage hit a field goal to take a 17-15 lead just a minute into the third quarter.
Brock Hester drew an and one on a putback but missed the foul shot, but Tyler Medina evened the score at 20-20 on a 3-pointer with 5:05 left in the third.
The Eagles finished the quarter on a 9-3 run to take a 29-23 advantage into the fourth and final quarter.
It was early on in the fourth that things began to unravel for the Bulldogs. Watson was awarded his first technical foul of the season after speaking to a referee on the sideline.
Watson did this in response to the game officials’ calling of the match, which to put it mildly can be described as one-sided — in the Eagles favor — at best.
A short time later an official turned around and gave Watson a second technical foul, which means an automatic ejection from the game.
“In a game like this emotions are going,” Watson said.
“I can live with the first technical, but on the second I was talking to a player.”
Watson was saying something to Hester when the official gave him the second technical. The referee’s back was originally turned to the coach, possibly causing some confusion as to which person Watson’s message was meant.
“I feel like I let my team down,” Watson said, “but they played hard, and I’m proud of the guys for coming back.”
A field goal by Chaney Simmons put Belgreen within four points of the lead at 40-36 with about two minutes left, but Decatur Heritage finished strong for the win.
Chase Landers led Belgreen in points with 11. Also scoring for the Bulldogs were Hester (8), Jake Tittle (6), Medina (5), Jared Mitchell (3), Dustin Smith (3) and Simmons (2).
