The Nederland Bulldogs remain unbeaten and in control of their destiny heading into their final home game against the Crosby Cougars on Friday.

With a win against the Cougars (6-2, 3-2 in District 12-5A Division II), the Bulldogs (8-0, 5-0 in 12-5A-II) clinch a share of the district title.

“[The players] know it,” Nederland head coach Monte Barrow said. “They keep up with stuff like that. We haven’t talked about that. When they set their goals at the beginning of the year, I don’t think sharing the district title was on the list. They want to win it outright. In order to do that and control your destiny, you have to win every game.”

This will be Crosby’s first game after Port Neches-Groves was forced to forfeit its win over the Cougars because one of the PNG coaches had an iPad in the coaches’ box during the game. The newly acquired win keeps the Cougars in the playoff hunt.

With Mid County Madness on the horizon, Barrow said he is making sure his players are focused on the task at hand.

“I mention it,” Barrow said. “As a coach, you fell like you have to. It helps that Crosby is a know program. They have a lot of great athletes and are coached very well. Our kids know that Crosby is coming to town.”

Friday’s game also marks senior night and the last home game for the senior Bulldogs. Barrow said the team’s upperclassmen have been integral to the Bulldogs’ success this season.

“The first thing we did on Monday is challenge our underclassmen,” Barrow said. “This week is about them and how they prepare and perform and send their big brothers out. The spotlight is on our seniors, but we challenged our little brothers to make sure they show up mentally and physically.

“You can’t have this type of season with out a strong senior class. You can see different ones, sometimes in the smallest of ways, take a younger guy under their wing. They show them how to get ready for a game and the right way to mentally prepare for spots those guys haven’t been in.”

Barrow said his team is aware that they are going to get the best out of every team they play given their position at the top of the district.

“[The players] have seen that throughout the season,” he said. “These last two games are about playoffs. Teams are trying to stay in the playoff race and make the playoffs not excluding us. It’s a crazy deal when you’re 5-0 and haven’t clinched a playoff spot. That just speaks to the parity of our district and the number of teams that are capable of making the playoffs.”

Crosby has averaged 35.4 points per game this season and feature an explosive offense.

“They do a really good job of spreading you out,” Barrow said of Crosby. “They get really good athletes with speed in space. That’s what the game has gone to on a lot of different levels. You add the fact that they are very well coached, and that is a task for our defense.”

The Bulldogs bring in the district’s top defense and will look to limit the Cougars explosive plays.

“[Crosby] scores a lot of points,” Barrow said. “A lot of those points come off of big plays. If you can get them down and make them snap the ball again, that gives your defense a chance to make to stop them or create a turnover.”
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Chris Moore: 721-2427. Twitter: @chris_moore09