By Chad W. Smith
The Dodge County High Indians basketball team won two big sub region games last week as they avenged earlier losses to East Laurens and Dublin to extend their winning streak to five in row and six of their last seven.
The Indians defeated East Laurens 54-53 on Tuesday, January 26 and then beat fifth ranked Dublin 44-39 on Friday, January 29. The Indians are now 11-10 overall and 6-4 in the sub region.
The two wins last week secured the Indians the third place spot in the sub region behind Dublin and Vidalia headed into the region tournament in two weeks.
The Indians have two region cross over games scheduled this week as they host Screven County for Senior night this Friday, February 5 at 6:00 p.m. and then travel to Jefferson County on Saturday, February 6 at 4:00 p.m.
The Indians will also travel to Hawkinsville on Tuesday, February 9 for a non region game at 6:00 p.m.
The Indians ran out to a 12-2 lead over the East Laurens Falcons in the first four minutes of last Friday’s game before the Falcons closed the gap to 12-17 at the end of the quarter. Jordan Jones led Dodge with six points in the quarter as he opened the quarter with a three-pointer and closed the quarter with a three-pointer. The Falcons closed the gap a little further in the second quarter as they outscored Dodge 17-14 to pull within two, 31-29, at halftime. Curtis Rushing led Dodge with six points in the second followed by Rusty Selph with four. The Indians lost their lead for a brief time at the beginning of the third quarter but a basket by Herschel Anderson at the 6:58 mark of the third put Dodge ahead for good and then Jordan Jones scored 11 of his game high 17 points in the quarter including three of his game high five three pointers. Tamius Lemon also had four points in the quarter. Dodge led 49-44 after three.
The Indians held on to their lead and the win in the final quarter by a score of 54-53. Anderson and Greg Butler each scored baskets in the final quarter and Leonard Floyd had a free throw for all the scoring for Dodge in the final quarter.
Final scoring for the Indians against East Laurens was: Jordan Jones, 17 points; Curtis Rushing, nine points; Tamius Lemon, seven points; Greg Butler, seven points; Herschel Anderson, five points; Leonard Floyd, five points and Rusty Selph, four points.
Dodge held Dublin to four points in the first quarter of last Friday’s game and scored 11 of their own. Greg Butler led the Indians with four points in the quarter.
The Indians held a 20-11 lead over the Irish at halftime led by Jordan Jones and Justice Burch with one three-pointer each in the quarter.
Dodge continued to keep their lead in the third quarter led by Leonard Floyd with four points in the quarter. Dodge led 28-21 after three.
The Irish outscored Dodge 18-16 in the final quarter but the Indians never relinquished their lead as they took the win over the defending state champion and ranked Irish team by a score of 44-39.
The Irish got within one with 58.3 seconds left but Curtis Rushing and Tamius Lemon both hit key free throws to close the game and preserve the win. Floyd led Dodge with six points in the final quarter followed by Jones and Tamius Lemon with four points each.
Final scoring for the Indians against Dublin was: Leonard Floyd, 11 points; Jordan Jones, 10 points; Tamius Lemon, eight points; Greg Butler, eight points; Curtis Rushing three points; Justice Burch, three points and Herschel Anderson, one point.
