Big second half propels Bulldogs

By DALE STUBBLEFIELD / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard

Eastside’s Tyler Gilley (33) weaves his way down the floor against Dibrell defenders Dylan Blair (22) and Cody Bond during Tuesday night’s semifinal game at the Warren County Middle School fifth- and sixth-grade Invitational.

The Wildcats of Dibrell took on the Eastside Bulldogs Tuesday night in the WCMS Invitational Tournament in semifinal action. Eastside earned the right to play in the championship game on Thursday, taking a 31-20 win over the Wildcats.

The first half was a test for both teams’ guard play as Dibrell and Eastside used full-court pressure in the hope of taking advantage of their opponents’ turnovers.

Eastside jumped on the scoreboard in the first period with six points, while several missed shots by Dibrell held them to four points in the quarter. In the second period Eastside had the hot hand from the field, hitting almost everything they put up. Dibrell had some trouble with Eastside’s press in the period and made several costly turnovers just before the end of the half, and by intermission Eastside had built a 17-8 lead.

In the third period the Bulldogs started to open up their lead as they hit for 10 points in the period and kept Dibrell off the board for the first three minutes of the quarter. At the end of the third Eastside had built a 16-point advantage. In the final period Dibrell finally broke free on offense and poured in nine points. Eastside struggled with Dibrell’s defense as the Bulldogs hit for only four points in the quarter. Dibrell tried to make a late run, but time ran out giving Eastside the win.

For Eastside, Tyler Gilley Had 10 points, Morgan Wilcher seven, Jesse Slaughter five, Brian Nigero four points, Caleb Underhill had three and Auston Young added two points.

For Dibrell, Cody Bond hit for seven points, Dylan Blair had five, Tyler Mitchell had four, Derek Mikkola hit for three and Lou Christian added one point.