BULLDOGS CHOMP WILDCATS: Andalusia knocks off 7A No. 8 Enterprise
Published 12:05 am Friday, December 22, 2017
The Andalusia Bulldogs came out strong and knocked off the Class 7A Enterprise Wildcats in 2-of-3 games on Thursday night in Andalusia.
VARSITY
ANDALUSIA 53,
ENTERPRISE 52
In varsity boys action, the No. 8-ranked Andalusia Bulldogs topped the No. 8-ranked Enterprise Wildcats 53-52 to remain undefeated on the year.
Andalusia went up early with a layup from Keaun Samuel off an assist from Trey Wilkerson.
The Bulldogs got a stop on the other end of the floor and Wilkerson drained a long 2-pointer from the corner.
Enterprise cut into the Bulldog lead when Dallas Howell was fouled while dropping in a layup. Howell was good on the free throw.
The Wildcats then got a steal and bucket from Jajuan Hayes to go on top 5-4 with 5:47 left in the opening period.
Andalusia took the lead back moments later with a layup from Wilkerson.
The Bulldogs quickly got the ball back and B.J. Anderson tossed up an alley-oop to Wilkerson who shook the gym with a massive two-hand slam.
Anderson then got a tip in and finished of the first period scoring with 3-pointer to help give the Bulldogs a 13-12 lead heading into the second period.
Andalusia got on the board first in the second period when R.J. Drish sank a pair of free throws to put the Bulldogs on top 15-12.
Anderson got a big block on the other end of the floor to give the Bulldogs back the rock.
Samuel pulled down an offensive rebound and went straight back up to give Andalusia a 17-12 lead early in the second period.
The Bulldogs continued the strong start to the period with a fancy layup from Wilkerson.
Wilkerson then dropped in a reverse layup off an assist from Ethan Wilson.
Moments later, Samuel pulled down another offensive rebound and put it right back in to give Andalusia a 23-14.
Samuel ended the scoring in the second period for the Bulldogs after getting two more points following another offensive board.
At halftime, Andalusia was on top 25-19.
Enterprise came out strong in the third period, starting it off with back-to-back 3-pointers from Cam Miller and Harris to tie game 25-25.
The Bulldogs grabbed the lead back briefly with a soaring dunk from Wilkerson, but Enterprise answered with a pair of free throws from Howell.
The Wildcats then grabbed their second lead of the game with a layup from Chris Dunford.
Anderson then hit a free throw to trim the Wildcat lead down to 29-28, but Howell stretched the Wildcat lead up to 32-28 with a 3-pointer.
Andalusia began to inch closer when Drish came up with a steal and sprinted down the court for a layup.
Wilson then knocked down a pair of free throws with 1:25 left in the third period to leave the Bulldogs trailing 32-31.
The Bulldogs capped off the period with a layup from Anderson to take a 33-32 lead into the final period.
Drish got the Bulldogs rolling with a pair of layups to start the final from and give the Bulldogs a 37-32 lead.
Enterprise rallied back a jumper from Miller knotted things a 37-all.
The Bulldogs then went back on top by four points with buckets from Samuel and Drish, but the Wildcats bounced right back to square the game up at 41-41.
After Anderson knocked home a free throw, the Wildcats got a 3-pointer from Hayes to take a 44-42 lead.
Anderson then put the Bulldogs back on top when he was fouled in the process of making a layup. Anderson hit the and-one opportunity to put Andalusia up 45-44.
A layup from Wilson then got the Bulldogs up 47-44.
Enterprise responded with a 3-pointer from Hayes to once again tie the game.
The Bulldogs got the lead right back when Samuel dropped in a layup with 2:08 left in the game.
Wilson then gave the Bulldogs a 51-47 lead after hitting two free throws.
The Wildcats weren’t going to go away without a fight and another 3-pointer trimmed the Andalusia lead to 51-50 with 1:15 left.
Andalusia got the lead back up to three points when Samuel dropped in a layup with 33 seconds left on the clock.
The Wildcats crossed half court and took time out to set up a 3-point play.
Enterprise missed the first attempt, but Miller was able to secure the rebound for the Wildcats.
Miller sprinted back to the 3-point line and fired up a shot that banked in, but the Wildcat head coach called and was granted a time out just before the ball left Miller’s hand.
Coming out of the time out, the Wildcats looked to get the ball to Miller on the inbound.
Miller secured the inbound pass and tried to take a shot, but he was fouled in the act of shooting and went to the line for three shots with .4 seconds left on the clock.
Miller sank the first free throw, but missed the second. Miller was looking for a miss on the third shot to give his teammates a chance to tip the ball in to tie game, but instead he hit the shot to give Andalusia the ball back.
The Bulldogs got the ball in cleanly and the clock struck zero for a 53-52 Bulldog victory.
Samuel led the Bulldogs with 14 points in the win.
Wilkerson finished the night with 12 points.
Anderson and Drish each tacked on 11 points for the Bulldogs.
Wilson rounded out the Bulldog scoring with five points.
“We needed that,” Andalusia head coach Anthony Clark said. “That’s the type of game that we needed. We needed a game where were tested and once again we had a good balance of scoring. I’m really proud of these guys. We were not at our best tonight, but collectively they found a way to win. We needed to face some adversity and we were able to overcome that. I’m just really proud of these guys. Enterprise is a really good team and for us not to be at our best and still be able to pull out the win, that was really good for us. I was really proud of the way that Roosevelt Weaver came in and was able to spot guys and give them a rest. That was really key for us tonight. Ethan (Wilson) did a good job holding No. 22 (Dunford) to just one 3-pointer. Coming into the game, we felt like he was their best shooter. I was also proud of the way that B.J. (Anderson) has been running the point. With Curtis (Daniels) out with a injury for a few weeks, B.J. has done a great job at adjusting to that position.”
The Bulldogs will be back in action today when they travel to Brewton to take on the T.R. Miller Tigers.
Today’s games will just be varsity girls and varsity boys. The boys will play first beginning at 5:30 p.m.
JUNIOR VARSITY
ANDALUSIA 48,
ENTERPRISE 38
In junior varsity action, the Andalusia Bulldogs used four strong periods topple Enterprise 48-38.
Andalusia went on top 4-3 early in the first period with a pair of free throws from Zak Ridgeway.
Ridgeway tacked on four more points with Elijah McClain and Patrick McCorvey eah finished the first period with two points to put the Bulldogs on top 10-5 at the end of the first period.
The Bulldogs went on a roll in the second period behind an 11-point outburst from McClain to give Andalusia a 24-9 lead at halftime.
Enterprise was able to get a little more offensively in the third period, but the Bulldogs continued their strong scoring and went up 33-17 heading into the final period.
The Bulldogs continued to roll in the final period as they held off the Wildcats for a 48-38 victory.
McClain the way for the Bulldogs with 19 points in the win.
NINTH GRADE
ENTERPRISE 31,
ANDALUSIA 23
The Enterprise Wildcats’ ninth grade team built an early lead and was able to hold off the Bulldogs for a 31-23 win.
Kendall Sims led the Bulldogs with eight points in the loss.