Bulldogs dash Mustang title hopes

By Dave Lewis With The Meteor

For the second year in a row, the Crockett Bulldogs ended Madisonville's basketball season, this year in the regional quarterfinals, as they came away from Tuesday night's game in Huntsville with a 70-52 verdict.Although Coach Brian Thurmond's first year at the Mustang helm ended on a down note, he assured family and friends after the contest, "We'll be back. I'm glad I'm in Madisonville."The Bulldogs used full and half-court pressure and attacked the basketball almost from start to finish, scoring no less than 14 easy points off Mustang turnovers in the back court.The Mustangs didn't play with the fire and quickness that had served them so well throughout their 26-6 season this year and the Bulldogs simply took advantage of the opportunities they were given.The game's outcome was still uncertain with just 6:48 left in the fourth period when Madisonville held a 49-48 lead. With just over 6 minutes left, the score was knotted at 50-50, but from t here o n, it was all Crockett.Over the final 5:39, the Bulldogs put together a 20-2 run that took the air out of the Mustangs and sealed the deal.
Bulldogs Tracy Cooper, Lonnie Bacon and Naquan Lee combined for eight back-to-back free throws in the last 2:12 of the game. For the night, Madisonville was just 5-for-16 at the foul line. Thurmond has said all year that poor free throw shooting could lead to Madisonville's undoing, and Tuesday night's performance proved to be an example.For the second playoff game in a row, Jacorey Gilbert led the Mustangs in scoring with 24 points, and was the only player to score in double figures.Howard Harris finished with 9 points, Chris Whaley scored 6, Brandon Stubblefield score 5 and Rob Nellums, Alonzo Whaley, Brock Taylor and Chris Young each scored 2 points.Lee Martinez paced the Bulldogs with 18 points while Cooper finished with 13 and Bacon added 12.

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