Decatur Boys, Girls Beat Therrell

When Decatur point guard Kurt Robinson is playing at the top of game, assistant coach Omar Collington likes calling him “Picasso.” The real Picasso often said it’s what you leave out of a painting that’s just as important as what you put in.

Tuesday night against Therrell Robinson only scored eight points – that was the part he left out – but in every other category his was an artistic tour de force.

He had six assists, five rebounds, three steals, two gravity-defying blocks and a  steal-and-dunk that belonged on the Sports Center hightlights. He committed only two turnovers in Decatur’s 53-49 victory at the Therrell gym.

“He dominated this game without scoring much,” said Decatur coach Charlie Copp. “That’s the mark of a potentially great player.”

Robinson aside, the game was an aesthetic mess, particularly because officials seemed to blow their whistles on every possession in the first half.

Decatur led 23-21 at intermission when sophomore Murad Dillard scored inside at the buzzer. The Bulldogs never relinquished that advantage, although there’d be a couple hairy moments late.

In the second half’s opening eight minutes officials pulled an about face, hardly blowing their whistles at all. Decatur opened up a 41-31 lead as sophomore Davante Meadows scored nine of his game-high 18 points in the third quarter.

In Tuesday’s opener Decatur’s sixth-ranked girls actually trailed 12-11 with 1:19 left in the first quarter, before turning on the afterburners in their eventual 80-31 win. The Lady Bulldogs limited Therrell to only eight points and one field goal in the second half.

Senior and Jacksonville University-signee Queen Alford turned in a dominating performance of her own with a season-high 37 points, along with nine rebounds, seven assists and 12 steals. Her sister Jahmee Alford-Reeves had nine points and Jordan Dillard added 11.

The Lady Bulldogs have now won 18 of their first 21 games.

The boys pulled to within one game of .500 at 10-11 but not after a fourth-quarter letdown nearly cost them the game. When Therrell’s Arnord Andrade hit a pair of free throws with 19.5 seconds remaining, homestanding Therrell only trailed 52-49

Finally and mercifully time ran out.

“A survival game,” Copp said. “It’s one of those games where you get the win and then get out of town.

For Decatur, Desmond Tuft came off the bench to score 14, while Brett Riley – who’s improvement has been dramatic over the past few weeks -- had his third consecutive game scoring in double figures with 11 points and a team-high eight rebounds.

Decatur shot 21 of 45 from the field for 47 percent, but only 3 of 13 (23 percent) in three pointers, 8 of 16 from the foul line.

Therrell’s boys go to 3-14 while its girls drop to 3-15.

Decatur next plays at Cross Keys Friday, the girls at 5:30 p.m. and the boys at 7 p.m.