Clarkdale boys take thriller over Enterprise
By By Robby Atkinson
staff writer
ENTERPRISE Clarkdale and Enterprise have had many battles on the hardwood over the past couple of weeks, but Tuesday night's game will be remembered as an absolute classic.
The battle of the Bulldogs came down to a double overtime game and Clarkdale came out on top 80-79.
"This is the highest point of the season for our basketball team," said Clarkdale head coach Ronnie Boles. "This is a special team and we played such a great game down the stretch and did some special things to get this victory."
Clarkdale moves to 8-8 overall and 1-0 in Division 7-2A play and Enterprise fell to 2-13 overall and 0-3 in division play.
Clarkdale jumped out to a 14-9 lead at the end of the first quarter behind an eight-point quarter from Deion Henley.
Enterprise cut the lead to 19-17 on the momentum of a couple of great jump shots from Scott Mosley. Clarkdale pushed the score out to 29-22 at the end of the first half by using the inside game with Jared Culpepper.
Clarkdale started to pull away in the third quarter with a quick 8-0 run to make the score 37-22. Enterprise was able to fight back moments later with a couple of fast break baskets from Maurice Dixon to cut into the Clarkdale lead at 41-38 with 1:12 left in the third. Clarkdale used a fast break offense of its own with three straight fast break baskets in the final minute to take a 47-38 lead.
Enterprise played a wonderful fourth quarter and cut the lead down to 66-62 with 1:22 behind Mosley. Enterprise came up with a great stop on defense and came right back down the floor with a long three-point field goal from Dennis Watson to make the score 67-65 in favor of Clarkdale with 57 seconds left.
Enterprise came up with another stop on the other end of the floor and Mosley put up a fade away jump shot to send the game into overtime.
"You hate to see anyone lose this game," said Enterprise head coach Mark Davis. "I think the maturity level of this basketball team improved tonight."
Clarkdale dominated the first overtime period with free throws by J.T. Godwin to give CHS a 72-69 lead with nine seconds remaining. Enterprise didn't want to go quietly into the night as Dixon put up a final three-point shot and the basket was good and sent the game into double overtime. Clarkdale held as much as a four-point lead in the period, but Enterprise came storming back to make it a one-point game with 31 seconds at 80-79.
Enterprise forced a Clarkdale turnover and gave the ball to Mosley, but the shot came up short and Clarkdale survived to take the win. Deion and Shannon Henley both had a team-high 17 points and Culpepper ended the night with 16 points.
Mosley scored a game-high 22 points, while Dixon ended the evening with 14.
Enterprise (girls) 40
Clarkdale 30
Enterprise (9-8, 1-2) used some late runs in the fourth quarter to take the 10-point win over Clarkdale. Enterprise took a 23-21 lead at the end of the first half and both teams struggled to find the offense for the rest of the night. Jessica Gray scored four points in the third quarter to give Enterprise a 30-23 lead at the end of the third.
Kayla Clark sealed the game for EHS down the stretch with a pair of free throws and a basket to give Enterprise the extra added momentum it needed.
Kacey Jimmerson finished with a game-high 14 points and Gray added 10 in the win. Felicia Kirksey led Clarkdale (6-10, 0-1) with 13 points and Veronica Newell added six in the loss for Clarkdale.
