Bigelow Ends Decatur's Season With Upset

— No one at Decatur knows the last time the Bulldogs qualified for the state tournament. In fact, no one really knows if the school has ever advanced that far in the postseason.

But that is now a question for next year.

2A-West Regional

Boys

Bigelow 35, Decatur 28

Bigelow^6^6^6^17^—^35

Decatur^7^9^3^9^—^28

Bigelow (9-13): Granillo 11, Holt 10, Bently 8, Pelham 3, Nutt 2, White 1,

Decatur (14-10): M. Urquidi 14, Kell 7, P. Lee 5, V. Urquidi 2.

No. 1 seed Decatur had its worst offensive night of the year, and No. 4 seed Bigelow hit 11-of-14 free throws over the final 2 minutes, 27 seconds as the Panthers stunned the Bulldogs 35-28 in a first round game at the 2A-West Regional Tournament.

Bigelow (9-13) qualifies for the state tournament for the first time since 2007 and it will face either Eureka Springs or Hector in the regional semifinals Friday. Decatur, which was 4-0 in the new Eureka High School gym, ends the season at 14-10.

Junior Mario Urquidi seemed to give the Bulldogs a lift going into halftime when his long 3-pointer beat the buzzer to give the Bulldogs a 16-12 lead. But Decatur's leading scorer would not convert from the field again and the Bulldogs would make just two field goals in the second half as the Panthers put the game away at the free-throw line.

"Two field goals, can't win a basketball game like that," Decatur coach John Unger said. "It was my worst fear coming into the game because we are not a good shooting team at times. We have had these games before. Our last three losses were those types of games."

Despite the horrible shooting, Decatur stayed close with its defense, but it managed to make just 6-of-15 free throws in fourth quarter, and 7-of-22 for the game. Decatur took a 19-18 lead to the fourth quarter and the game was tied at 22-22 with 3:45 left.

Not converting at the line was another big disappointment, Unger said.

"Free throws killed us," Unger said. "I don't know what it is. We shoot a 100 free throws a day, and guys go up there and make 10, 12 in a row. Here, lights come on and we can't make a free throw. Down the stretch when we were shooting a double bonus, you have to knock them down."

Bigelow coach Craig Neumeier said the Panthers' defense was the difference in the game. Slowing the 6-foot-4 Urquidi was a top priority and the Panthers held the junior to 14 points, including just three free throws in the second half.

"We said all year that we have to win on defense because we are not great on offense," Neumeier said. "Defensively, we had a lot of boys help on Urquidi. Free throw shooting, we made them when we had to have them."

Sports on 02/27/2014

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