Nederland still perfect in Marathon

Published 11:21 pm Friday, December 9, 2016

SOUR LAKE — Nederland coach Brian English knows his Bulldogs are capable of playing some good basketball this season. He is just ready to see it done for an entire game.

The Bulldogs kept their unbeaten record at the Hardin-Jefferson Basketball Marathon after Friday evening’s 77-39 win over Tyler Chapel Hill. Nederland defeated Shepherd 60-49 earlier in the day Friday.

Nederland faces Longview at 11 a.m. today. The Bulldogs would play for the tournament championship at 6:30 p.m. with a win. A loss would put them in the third-place game at 5 p.m.

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Nederland used the second quarter to pull away from Chapel Hill’s Bulldogs and put the game on ice.

Nederland led 21-17 after the first period and then only gave up two points in the second. Darrell Jones had nine of his 15 points in the first period and Reid Garrett had seven of his 14 in the same frame.

“We are playing pretty good but we need to play a full game,” Jones said. “It all starts with intensity. If you play with enough intensity, then nobody can beat you.”

Nederland built a 36-19 at the break.

English agreed with Jones on the problem stopping Nederland from being a complete team.

“We played some good quarters today, we haven’t played a full game yet,” English said. “Boy I am looking forward to playing a full game. We are playing pretty good right now in certain areas and at certain times. I am just looking forward to playing a full game.”

One part of the game Nederland struggled with Friday was turnovers. Those Bulldogs had quite a few in the third, and it caused English to sit four of his five starters. The only starter to stay in was point guard Jonathan Rayford.

Nederland led 52-31 after the third behind seven points from forward Kevin Howard, who finished with 14 points total.

“Kevin can be unstoppable down low,” Jones said of his teammate. “Then we have Garrett on the outside and if he is hot, he is unstoppable. They have a great inside, outside game.”

Jones did most of his damage in the first period and then scored two points in each of the last three periods.

Nederland then outscored Chapel Hill 25-8 in the fourth. Logan Foster scored five of his 10 points in the game’s final eight minutes.

Hayden Hefner added eight points for Nederland. Devin Taylor led Chapel Hill with seven points.

 

About Gabriel Pruett

Gabriel Pruett has worked with both the Port Arthur News and Orange Leader since 2000. A majority of the time has been spent covering all aspects of Southeast Texas high school sports. Pruett's claim to fame is...being able to write his own biographical information for this website.

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