Bulldogs hang on to pull out overtime win

By Brannon King

For the FCT

The Belgreen Bulldogs found a way to hold on and survive a wild matchup with the Colbert Heights Wildcats to pick up a 70-68 overtime win at home on Monday.

Belgreen’s scoring leaders, Chase Landers, Dustin Smith and Josh DeVaney, were too much for the Wildcats to handle. The three combined for 64 of the Bulldogs’ 70 points in the game.

But Kaleb Suggs wouldn’t let the Wildcats go down without a fight.  Suggs was a force both under the basket using his height to score down low and outside as he hit from beyond the three-point line showing his versatility. Suggs finished the night with a game-high 39 points.

Belgreen led by 12 points at the half but then Suggs brought the Wildcats all the way back, scoring 25 points over the course of the third and fourth quarters, but was held to only one point in OT.

The Bulldogs looked to have the game in hand until Dylan Marlar of Colbert Heights connected on a clutch three-pointer with only seconds to go in the fourth quarter. Belgreen had a chance to win as time expired in regulation but came up empty sending the game into overtime.

Belgreen showed heart and determination to take back control of the game and pick up the victory.

Chase Landers led Belgreen in scoring with 28 points while also collecting six rebounds. Dustin Smith had 24 points and five boards on the night. Josh DeVaney came up big for Belgreen with 12 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists. Will Barnwell added four points for Belgreen and Ben Inman finished out the scoring totals with two.

Head coach of the Bulldogs, Patrick Odom, was pleased with how his team fought back to win.

“I told our kids that I didn’t think we played real good down the stretch but to credit Colbert Heights, when the Suggs kid starts making shots like that, there’s just not a lot you can do about it.

“I like the fact that we hung in there and fought and found a way to win, which is a good characteristic to have.”