The Greenwood Bulldogs were looking to go back-to-back-to-back Friday night wins. While winning on Friday nights was starting to become a theme, big 3rd quarter performances from the opposing team was the going thing this week. On Tuesday, Van Buren used a 32-point effort to put the Bulldogs away.
On Friday night the Bulldogs looked to be evenly matched with the visiting Harrison Goblins on Homecoming night. Junior Jayden Garnes would strike first with a 3-point basket that led to Greenwood jumping out to an early lead with scores from Seniors Braden Bollman and L.J. Robins. Bulldogs led 8-3. Harrison would catch up and tie the game at 8-8, then pull away slightly at the end of the first. The Goblins up on the Bulldogs 18-12. Peyton Presson led the quarter with four points. Garnes and Robins both had three points, and Bollman with 2 points.
Going into the half, the Bulldogs were still close to the Goblins and were only outscored 10-11. The halftime score was 30-23, with Harrison holding the edge. L.J. Robins led the scoring in the quarter at 4 points, Peyton Presson had 3. Jayden Garnes and Brenden Chick had 2 points each.
In the third quarter the Goblins pulled away outscoring the Bulldogs 22-13. Harrison was able to use the Bulldogs misfortune at the basket to their advantage and topped it off with a buzzer beater from between mid-court and the three-point line. Braden Bollman and Peyton Presson did everything they could to keep Greenwood close offensively, adding seven points and four points respectively. Brenden Chick would add another two points.
In the fourth quarter the two teams were deadlocked in scoring. Both teams had 17 points in the final period of play. L.J. Robins squeaked by classmate Peyton Presson for scoring in the quarter getting seven points to Presson’s six. Brenden Chick had three points, while Braden Bollman added the last two on his 12-point effort.
“Nobody can fault their effort.” Coach B.J. Ross said after the game, “They fought, they grinded, they did everything they were supposed to.”
“We talked in there.” Coach Ross motioned to the locker room “We got four games, let’s fight… let’s try to spoil somebody’s conference.”
While the most recent seasons of Bulldog Basketball have been tough, Coach Ross in his first year is optimistic about the direction of the program. He heralded the seniors on this year’s team to starting the foundation for the next classes to build on. 7th Grade went undefeated in conference beating teams in double digits most nights. The 8th Grade team took only a few losses, while the Freshman squad improved every week under the new philosophies. The game play on the floor is visibly different and similar to the aggressive style seen from the 7-time State Champion Lady Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs are on the road to Siloam Springs on Tuesday. Then will be back in H.B. Stewart Arena to host the Mountain Home Bombers. Tip-off is slated at 7 p.m. and can be seen if you cannot make it to the game on Greenwood Sports Center with the voice of the Bulldogs Tim Terry on the call.
