Decatur Set To Open 2A West Regional

Decatur will look to make history Wednesday when the Bulldogs face Bigelow in the first round of the 2A-West Regional in Eureka Springs.

A win will put Decatur into the Class 2A State Tournament for possibly the first time in school history.

2A West Region

At Eureka Springs

Girls

First Round

Wednesday

Mountainburg (1st 4W) vs. Quitman (4th 4E), 4 p.m.

Conway St. Joseph (1st 4E) vs. Magazine (4th 4W), 7 p.m.

Thursday

Hector (2nd 4E) vs. Hackett (3rd 4W), 4 p.m.

JC Westside (2nd 4W) vs. Conway Christian (3rd 4E). 7 p.m.

Boys

First Round

Wednesday

Decatur (1st 4W) vs. Bigelow (4th 4E), 5:30 p.m

Conway St. Joseph (1st 4E) vs. JC Westside (4th 4W), 8:30 p.m.

Thursday

Hector (2nd 4E) vs. Eureka Springs (3rd 4W), 5:30 p.m.

FS Union Christian (2nd 4W) vs. Western Yell Co. (3rd 4E), 8:30 p.m.

"I don't know if this program has ever gone to state," Decatur coach John Unger said. "That will be big for the town, the school, the program if we can accomplish that."

Decatur defeated Union Christian on Saturday to win the district tournament and a No. 1 seed at the West Regional. Winning the district tournament marked the first time in at least three seasons Decatur won a tournament crown, and the Bulldogs are now 4-0 in the new gym at Eureka Springs.

The Bulldogs are also winners of nine of their last 10 games.

"It was big to win a tournament, and they are definitely feeling it right now," Unger said.

Mario Urquidi scored 17 points against Union Christian in the district championship game, and the junior is averaging 20 points and 12 rebounds a game. In the district semifinals against Johnson County Westside, Urquidi hit four 3-pointers in the third period in a 64-61 victory.

"Phenomenal player who hasn't even hit his potential yet," Unger said of the 6-foot-4 junior. "He shows great flashes every once in a while. He can go inside, or we can move him out to the wing. I have been working with him individually with his 3-point shot. If he can make that, there would not be a better player in 2A because he can play above the rim."

Unger said Bigelow matches up well with the Bulldogs.

"Bigelow plays a lot of people," Unger said. "They play man-to-man, and they press a little bit. They are a bunch of real good basketball players."

Sports on 02/25/2014

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