Opening games are supposed to break you in gently, a warm-and-fuzzy 15- or 20-point win that leaves everybody smiling politely and asking about the in-laws.
Friday night’s opener at the Decatur High School arena was not so gentle, was in fact more like a detonation. In the end, after 36 minutes of vivid, hang-wringing, occasionally flawed but always spirited basketball, the Decatur boys outlasted Providence Christian (ranked eighth in the preseason Single-A coaches poll) 62-59 in overtime.
In the girls game, Decatur won 60-30.
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The Bulldogs withstood an absolute blizzard of an opening 10:15, when Providence erupted to a 22-13 lead. They also withstood one of the state’s most potent guard combinations in 6-1 senior Nate Bucher, whose 23 points led all scorers, and 5-10 senior Dominique Cormier who added 16.
Decatur prevailed in part because of the maturity in senior point Kurt Robinson, the only player in Decatur’s starting lineup who started last year. After Robinson, however, this was truly an ensemble effort featuring newcomers and others who played only bit roles last year.
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“I told our guys before the game there was only one name, or one word that really means a whole lot, and that’s ‘Decatur,’ ” said second-year head coach Charlie Copp. “There is no way this team can win being just a collection of individuals.”
Providence was formidable early, and appeared poised for a blowout.
“We’re not gonna see that many teams, if any, quicker or more athletic than this one,” Copp said. “That’s why I think, except for the first quarter, we did a pretty good job defensively.”
Decatur battled back from its early nine-point deficit, thanks mostly to some nifty low-post play from 6-4 junior Brett Riley. He scored his only three baskets over a 1:35 span in the second quarter, first on a sweeping left-hand hook, then on a follow-up, and finally on a right-handed jump hook with 3:49 left in the first half, cutting Providence’s lead to 25-22.
Thirty seconds later Decatur senior Desmond Tuft hit a 10-footer, quickly followed by Davante Meadows’ short banker at 2:27 giving the Bulldogs their first lead at 26-25.
From here on this was a certified nail biter, with six ties, 10 lead changes, and no one ever leading by more than five.
Decatur made several breathtaking plays that proved crucial, but none bigger than Robinson’s 14-footer at the buzzer ending the third quarter and giving Decatur a 45-43 lead. He actually had the ball stripped while in midair, before recovering as he landed, then jumping again, releasing his shot just as the clock struck zero.
“I call that,” Robinson said modestly, “making an athletic play.”
He finished with 21 points, seven rebounds, four assists, six steals and eight turnovers, the only flaw in his opening-night stat sheet.
“We’re definitely gonna be a better team this year,” Robinson said later. “Last year we had ‘Money’ (graduate Trumon Jefferson who averaged 21 points per), but this year we have more shooting options and we have more of a post presence.”
Almost every one of those options, shooting or otherwise, was needed on this night. The sophomore Meadows had a big-time block of a Bucher drive with 35 seconds left in regulation, thus preserving a 53-53 tie and sending matters into overtime.
Halfway into the extra frame and Decatur trailing 59-57, Riley blocked another Bucher shot, the Bulldogs recovered, worked the ball for 30 seconds before senior Xeric Kirk connected on a mind-numbing 3-pointer with 1:01 left, sending the large crowd into a frenzy and Decatur into the lead for good at 60-59.
Seconds later Tuft swiped a dribble and drove the length of the court. He was fouled and converted one of two free throws, making it 61-59. With about 20 seconds left Riley pounced on a loose ball and dished to senior Jacob Fortenberry, who was fouled and also made one of two free throws.
While everyone held their breath, Providence’s Charlie Scott missed a long three pointer at the buzzer to preserve Decatur’s victory.
Providence dominated at foul line, making 16 of 27 while Decatur made only 6 of 12. But the Bulldogs won by taking a whopping 11 more shots from the field. In a decidedly more up-tempo style than Decatur’s played in many years, the Bulldogs made 26 of 58 for 45 percent (including 4 of 11 threes) while Providence shot 22 of 47 for 47 percent.
Meadows tied Robinson for a team-high seven rebounds.
Decatur plays Monday in the first round of the Bulldogs Thanksgiving Classic, an 8:30 p.m. tipoff vs. Druid Hills. In the second round Tuesday Decatur plays Woodward Tuesday, also at 8:30.
Decatur Scoring: Kurt Robinson-21; Davante Meadows-9; Xeric Kirk-9; Brett Riley-6; Desmond Tuft-5; Jacob Fortenberry-4; Cordele Jackson-5; Murad Dillard-3.
Queen Alford Leads Decatur Girls To 60-30 Win
Meantime, Decatur’s highly touted – or at least soon to be highly-touted -- girls had no trouble in its 2011-12 debut, running out to 23-3 lead after one quarter, and holding Providence to one field goal the entire first half.
“We definitely made a statement,” said Coach Bill Roberts, also in his second year at Decatur. “We beat [Providence] last year on a last-second shot, so it shows you how far we’ve come. We have so many more kids who can contribute this year, so we don’t have to depend on one player.”
That player is Queen Alford who averaged almost 26 a game last season. The senior recently signed with Jacksonville University, making her Decatur’s first Division I girls basketball signee in a long time -- probably since the legendary Pearl Worrell in the early 1970s.
Newcomer Jordan Dillard won’t be far behind. The 6-foot junior point, who transferred from Salem (she sat out varsity action all last season) also figures to land a D-1 school in the next year or so.
The Lady Bulldogs are currently unranked in the preseason coaches poll, an oversight that’ll likely be amended in the next couple weeks. Three Region 6-AA teams are already ranked.
Like its boys team, Buford is first in the state, Greater Atlanta Christian second and Lovett sixth.
On Friday Alford had 18 points while Dillard, still settling in to Roberts’ offense, added 11. Queen’s sister, Jahmee Alford-Reeves, a freshman whose fearlessness is definitely un-freshman-like, had eight.
“You have to remember that Jordan’s playing out of position,” Roberts said. “She’s playing point for us, but most colleges look at her as a three or four. She is extremely skilled, and once she gets rolling she’s gonna be a monster.”
Having dispatched Providence, the Lady Bulldogs look ahead to Monday’s 7 p.m. encounter against North Druid Hills, also at the Decatur High arena in the first round of the second annual Thanksgiving Classic.