Bulldogs finish third at Sparta tourney; Morgan named to all-tournament team


Garrett Morgan named to all-tournament team

The Gainesville Bulldogs defeated the Sparta Trojans 48-40 to bring home the third-place trophy at the Sparta Tournament Saturday, Jan. 27.

The Bulldogs took on Lighthouse Christian in the first round on Tuesday, Jan. 23, and won 58-40. Players scoring for the Bulldogs were Brandon Poe 17, Garrett Morgan 12, Brodie Chapman and John Hossman 11each, Jaxon Britt 7 and Wyatt Wilson 2. Poe and Wilson led in rebounds with 9 and 7, respectively. Wilson led in assists with 4 and blocks with 3. Chapman led in steals with 4.

The win advanced the Bulldogs to Friday’s semifinals against Forsyth, which had beaten Bakersfield in the first round. Gainesville lost to the Panthers, 70-56.

Poe led the scoring with 18 points, followed by Morgan with 14. Chapman added 10, followed by Britt with 9 and Hossman with 5. Wilson and Poe led in rebounds with 5, while Chapman led in assists with 6.

Senior Wyatt Wilson led the Bulldogs with 13 points, followed by Britt with 11, Chapman with 10 and Morgan with 7. Hossman added 5, while Poe and Donley chipped in 1 each. Britt, Poe and Chapmen led in rebounds, pulling down 4 each.

“I’m very proud of the week we had,” said GHS coach Matt Powell. “I don’t think I gave the kids a great defensive plan in the semifinals versus Forsyth, but I thought they competed well. I’m very pleased with our effort especially in the second half against Sparta. We only had 10 points and 4 field goals in the first half. I was frustrated. The boys were frustrated.”

After Jaxon and Brodie picked up their fourth fouls early in the third quarter, both sat out “for nine straight minutes,” Powell said, adding that “Cody Donley was instrumental during that time on defense. 

“John Hossman attacked the basket and made good decisions on offense scoring or finding Wyatt or Jaxon for a layup,” Powell said. “It was not a pretty game, but the boys got through it and found a way while playing completely opposite of how we try to execute a game plan. I’m extremely proud.”

Ozark County Times

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