Bulldogs Hold Back Watertown for 63-57 District Win

By Misty Green
Sports Reporter-Photographer

Bulldog Isaiah Washington and Tiger KeAnDre Bates collide early in the first quarter of the January 4, 2011, 8A District game between Red Boiling Springs and Watertown.

The Red Boiling Springs High School Bulldog Basketball team hosted Watertown on January 4, 2011 for a District 8A fight that went down to the final buzzer.

The Purple Tigers of Watertown dominated the first half of the game, leading 16-13 at the end of the first quarter, while continuing to pull away 31-23, by the halftime break.

Returning to the third quarter, Bulldog Jordan Grace was immediately fouled and nailed his two free-shots. Watertown answered with a lay-up to lead 33-25.

Two minutes later, the Bulldogs found their groove with two three’s and a lay-up from Andrew Mullinix, six points from Wes Grace, and two points from Shelton Watson to take back the lead, 41-39.

Red Boiling Springs opened the final period with a combined six-point effort from Allen Kirk, Shelton Watson, and Wes Grace, before Watertown hit their third three-point shot to trail 47-42.

The Purple Tigers did not play quietly in the last few minutes of the game, being called with a technical foul, four personal fouls on Wes Grace, and one penalty on Isaiah Washington, in which the Bulldogs stood ready to capitalize with each free-shot.

With .45 seconds remaining on the game clock,  and the Bulldogs leading 55-51, Watertown inched closer with a lay-up to trail by two points. Wes Grace then nailed two free-throws, which was immediately answered with two points from the Tigers. Wes Grace picked up two more free-shots, then the Tigers  missed a three point attempt, fouling Grace in the process. After his shots were made, RBS led 61-55 with 16.2 left in the contest.

On a Watertown scoring attempt with 7.2 showing on the game clock, Isaiah Washington was fouled for another two-point edge.

Bulldog Senior Jordan Grace blocked a two-point shot as the buzzer sounded, to win the game with a final score of 63-57.

The Bulldogs were led to victory by Wes Grace with 28 points, followed by Andrew Mullinix with 11 points, including three 3-pointers, Shelton Watson and Allen Kirk with eight points each, and Jordan Grace and Isaiah Washington with four points each.

With the win, Red Boiling Springs improved their record to 13-5 for the season.