Andalusia basketball coach Richard Robertson used two words to describe how the Bulldogs’ loss 69-63 to Ashford on Friday night — “self-destruct.”

The Bulldogs won the tip-off uncontested, and lost the ball on their first offensive possession which turned into a foul and the front-end of a pair of free throws for the Yellow Jackets.

From there, the contest remained close throughout the first period, where both teams switched leads multiple times.

Despite the loss, Robertson said the team will keep working to get better.

“We’re going to fight to the last day that we don’t have another chance to play,” he said.

Andalusia led 9-7 after a Joe Flowers 3-pointer. Ashford answered back with a trey of its own to lead 10-9.

From there, the Bulldogs couldn’t put up any more points, and trailed 12-9 after the first period.

The second period remained close, but the Yellow Jackets outscored the Bulldogs 18-17 to lead 30-26 at half time.

With this loss, Andalusia falls to 14-10 overall, and 3-2 in Class 4A, Area 3. The Bulldogs will play host to Headland on Tuesday night.

The last time Andalusia had losses in the double digits was back in 2003.

In the third period, the Bulldogs kept the game close, utilizing their powerful inside game to trail 34-30, 36-32 and 40-35 before Ashford started to pull away.

The Yellow Jackets took a 43-35 lead, and Niguel Jones added a 3-point play to cut into Ashford’s lead at 43-38.

Flowers nailed a 3-pointer to bring the game to 45-41 with 2:19 left in the third period, but the Yellow Jackets pulled away late to lead 51-47 going into the fourth period.

Andalusia’s Lakelyus “Fathead” Adams, Flowers and Jacard Townsend finishe in double figures for the Bulldogs. Flowers led with 20 points; Townsend chipped in 16 points; and Adams had 10 points.

Andalusia trailed 65-60 on a Flowers trey with 2:11 left in the contest. Flowers then hit another 3-pointer and Andalusia called a time out.

Then, Ashford kept driving to the paint to take a 67-63 lead, and sealed the win with the front-end of a free throw.

“We’re our own worst enemy,” Robertson said. “It’s the same story all year. We’ve got to overcome ourselves.”

Rafael Alvardo led the Yellow Jackets with 19 points; Troy Griggs had 13 points; and Devon Gooden had 18 points.