Decatur’s boys team ended a four-game losing streak Saturday with a much-needed 52-43 win at McNair.
The Bulldogs shot 16 of 41 from the field for 39 percent, after shooting a cumulative 29 percent in the previous three games. They also moved the ball well, particularly in the second half when McNair mostly used a 1-2-2 three-quarters trapping press.
“The press played right into our hands,” Decatur coach Charlie Copp said. “The guys got a lot sharper with their passes and we got an important win, especially considering we have a tough week ahead.”
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Decatur, 4-3, has a Tuesday rematch with Grady (Grady won 61-53 in overtime on Nov. 29) and a big regional game Friday at third-ranked Greater Atlanta Christian.
In Saturday’s opener, Decatur’s girls ran up a 39-1 halftime lead and easily dispatched McNair 76-12. Queen Alford scored 23 points and Jordan Dillard 19 as the seventh-ranked Bulldogs improved to 7-1.
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The boys trailed by as many as nine (23-14 with 1:45 left until halftime) and were still behind 23-18 at intermission. McNair played solid half-court defense in the first half, then inexplicably switched to a press in the second half.
Decatur sliced through the pressure, often making thre or four or five crisp passes per possession. The Bulldogs quickly got back in the game, and when Xeric Kirk hit a mid-range jumper with 4:16 left in the third, they took their first lead at 26-25 since early in the contest.
Matters remained close for only a couple more minutes. McNair’s Devante Grimes hit a hesitation jumper in the paint to put the home team ahead 30-26 with 2:15 left in the third.
But over the next 4:35 Decatur went on a 12-2 tear to take a six-point (38-32) lead with 5:40 left in the game.
After which, Xeric put this one in the deep freeze.
In the final 2:33 he hit all 10 of his free throws. Xeric was 14 for 14 from the line finishing with a game-high 18 points. As a team Decatur shot 19 of 26 free throws for 73 percent, the unquestionable difference in this one.
Junior Cordele Jackson had 12 points, three rebounds and three steals, while sophomore Davante Meadows had nine points and nine rebounds. Brett Riley and Murad had eight apiece.
Decatur played without point guard Kurt Robinson who’s still nursing a sprained ankle and will see a doctor next week. Copp was uncertain about Robinson’s return.
Tuesday’s game against Grady (boys play at 7, girls at 5:30 p.m.) is Decatur’s last home game until Jan. 3.
