Bob Jones nearly upset in thrilling win over Decatur

Bob Jones pays a return visit to Buckhorn Saturday night where they will play without Landry again. Their next area game is Jan. 20 at Florence. Landry indicated he would be back for that game.

BY LINDAY VAUGHT

Bob Jones High School got more than a scare from area opponent Decatur on Friday night as the Red Raiders pushed the No.1 ranked Patriots to overtime.

Bob Jones was held to their lowest point total of the season in regulation as the game was tied at 45 after four quarters. The Patriots trailed by as many as 5 points in overtime and needed two big 3-point shots to fall and stop two Decatur last second shots to get the key win 53-52.

Bob Jones is now 4-0 in area games and 19-0 on the season.

Decatur took advantage of a shorthanded Patriot team playing without point guard Travon, Landry who missed the game with a minor knee injury.

Decatur scorched the nets early by opening the game with 3 three-point baskets to get leads of 6-0 and 9-6. Deondre Dancy did most of the damage from outside as he worked against Kevin Wright who started in Landry’s place. Jeffrey Moss kept Bob Jones close in the first quarter scoring six of the Patriots eight points in the quarter including a slam after a Tyler Davis steal.

Decatur led 13-8 after opening the second quarter on a 4-0 run. Jemel Harper led the Bob Jones comeback with an offensive rebound and put back to for a 22-19 Patriot lead. A Tyler Davis three-point shot fell to give Bob Jones a 25-21 halftime lead.

Bob Jones built the lead to 9 points several times in the third quarter at 32-23 and 39-30. Jeffrey Moss did most of the damage in the third quarter scoring a 3-point basket and a 3-point play.

Decatur’s Darious Nelson game the Patriots problems all night on the low block with a series of short turnaround shots after getting position. He scored 9 points in the second half to lead the comeback. Dancy’s three gave Decatur a 6-0 run to tie the score at 43 late in the fourth quarter. After a Ragland rebound and put back, Moss missed a key free throw with 25 seconds left and Dancy tied it at 45 on a running jump shot in the lane. The teams were tied at 45 going to overtime.

Decatur went inside to Nelson in overtime and built a 50-45 lead. Trailing 52-47 with two minutes left, the Patriots needed a miracle and got one when Reggie Ragland dropped in a 3-point basket. Decatur twice missed front ends of one and ones to give the Patriots an opening. Kevin Wright hit his biggest shot of the season, a 3-pointer with 21 seconds left for a 1 point lead. Moss blocked a shot that could have won it as time expired.

“We really had to fight tonight but we pulled out the win,” Moss said after the game. “Missing Travon Landry was real big because he is our floor leader. I had to take his role and try to get my teammates involved.

Moss finished with 18 points and 7 rebounds.

“We just had a hard time scoring. We got two starters out,” said Bob Jones coach Danny Petty, who got no points off the bench during the game and was forced to leave three of his starters in for the entire game. Another starter, Harper played all but 3 minutes.

“We knew Nelson was good. They did a good job getting him the ball inside. They did a good job of sealing us and we didn’t get around him like we were supposed to. Jemel did a good job on him late,” Petty said.

Harper had one of his best games with 9 points and 15 rebounds.

Bob Jones pays a return visit to Buckhorn Saturday night where they will play without Landry again. Their next area game is Jan. 20 at Florence. Landry indicated he would be back for that game.