The Andalusia Bulldogs earned a spot in the area championship with a 63-52 victory over the Ashford Yellow Jackets in the first round of the 4A area 2 boys’ tournament.

 

“We have grown so much since the first of the season,” Bulldogs’ head coach Richard Robertson said. “I couldn’t be any prouder of this bunch than I am right now.”

 

The Bulldogs came crashing out of the gates with B.J. Anderson getting the opening bucket of the contest. The Bulldogs would then go on a 13-0 run, before the Yellow Jackets got their first point with just over a minute left in the first period. Anderson had 4 points during the opening run. Trevor Parker had 5 points to start the contest, and Kendarious Townsend had 4 points. Townsend finished the first period with 9 points to give the Bulldogs an 18-7 lead after one period of play.

 

The Yellow Jackets got a 3-pointer to open up the second period, but Parker answered right back with a 3-pointer of his own. Anderson then got a steal, and raced down court for an easy layup. DeVante Jackson got his first points of the game a few minutes later with a 2-for-2 effort from the free throw line. Jackson’s free throws gave the Bulldogs a 25-12 lead with five minutes left in the opening half. Parker ended the second period with 7 points, Jackson added 5 points and Anderson had 4 points. The Bulldogs led 37-24 at halftime.

 

The Yellow Jackets started the third period with six quick points to cut the Bulldogs’ lead down to 37-30 in the first minute of the period. Parker answered back with 4 straight points for the Bulldogs. On his second shot, Parker gave a pump fake that caused one Yellow Jacket player to run over another Yellow Jacket player, sending them both to the floor. Parker then made an uncontested basket from around the free throw line. Parker finished the third period with 6 points, and Anderson chipped in 3 points to give the Bulldogs a 50-40 lead heading into the final period.

 

Townsend opened up the scoring for the Bulldogs in the final period, and was fouled on the shot. Townsend failed to convert the and-1 shot, but the Bulldogs were up 52-42 early in the fourth. Jackson and Anderson each finished the final period with 4 points. Townsend and Alex Sheridan each added 2 points for the Bulldogs to give them a 63-52 victory.

 

Parker led the Bulldogs with 18 points. Anderson finished with a solid 15 points. Townsend knocked down 13 points, and Jackson collected 11 points.

 

“I’m so glad for these guys,” Robertson said. “They have worked extremely hard, and have persevered all season. I drive them hard at times, but it is because I want the best for them and I like to see them happy. We are playing in a rubber match with Straughn now for the championship. They beat us once over there in Straughn, and we beat them once here.  They have a pretty good team over there in Straughn, but we are starting to get pretty good ourselves. It should be an exciting game, and a very good crowd. Having two teams five minutes apart playing for the area championship speaks very highly about this community.”

 

Andalusia and Straughn will face off Saturday night at 7 p.m. for the area championship in Andalusia.