Bulldogs rally to victory past Edinburg, 75-74

By By Robby Atkinson/staff writer
November 23, 2003
The Clarkdale Bulldogs were looking for the right time to peak and that time may have arrived. The Bulldogs came from behind in the final minutes to take a narrow 75-74 win over Edinburg and capture the 2003 Clarkdale Invitational Tournament on Saturday night.
The Bulldogs started the game off with some hot shooting from senior guard Quinton Walker to take an early 6-1 lead over the Eagles. Walker extended the lead to 10-3 with a long jump shot.
But Edinburg came storming back to cut the lead to 10-9 behind a pair of baskets from Brandon King. Clarkdale held on to the advantage at the end of the first quarter by a score of 15-11.
The Eagles rolled to a 38-30 lead at the end of the first half. Johathon Belk hit three clutch three-point shots that sparked Edinburg to end the opening half.
Clarkdale found a way to get back in the game thanks to Walker. The senior hit a pair of shots and free throws to help Clarkdale tie the game at 44, with 2:40 left in the third. Walker gave the Bulldogs a 48-46 lead on the next possession due to a mistake on defense by the Eagles.
Clarkdale led the for the majority of the fourth quarter, but Edinburg pulled ahead 71-69 on a basket from Belk.
But Clarkdale sealed the game with several huge baskets from Shannon Henley down the stretch to take home to slim one-point win over Edinburg.
The Bulldogs were led in the scoring department by Walker with 24 points, and Henley had a 14-point performance. Belk led the Eagles with 20 points, and King followed with 17 points.
Enterprise (girls) 61
Stringer 40
Enterprise got an unbelievable first half from senior Kacie Jimmerson that proved to be the difference as the Enterprise Lady Bulldogs took home the honors of girls champion in the tournament.
The Lady Bulldogs led 16-10 at the end of the first quarter, and Jimmerson led Enterprise with 14 points. Jimmerson was the difference in the following quarter as the Lady Bulldogs held a 28-21 lead. The senior had 22 points in the first half, but was not a factor in the second half.
Stringer never came close in the second half as Enterprise went on an 18-2 run in the fourth thanks to free throws to take the win. Jessica Gray added eight points for EHS, and Leslie Speed had six points. Nikki Graham and Ashlee Hendry each had eight points for the Lady Red Devils.
Clarkdale (girls) 53
Edinburg 34
The Lady Bulldogs got a solid performance from Jayme Hales to win the consolation game over the Eaglettes. Hales had 15 point on the night, and Felicia Kirksey also had 12 points in the victory for Clarkdale. Leslie Wilcher had 14 points for Edinburg, and Kasey Ware added eight points in the loss.
Enterprise (boys) 72
Stringer 70
The Red Devils took the two-point win over the Bulldogs in an overtime period thanks to a game-winning shot from Mike Barrett. Barrett finished with 18 points, and Wesley Jenkins had 13 points. David D'Angelo had a game-high 21 points for EHS, and Patrick Godwin also had 20 points.