Bulldogs Tame Tigers & Sink Pirates

By Clint Cox

The Marianna Bulldogs took on two Jackson County rivals last week and came away with back to back wins. Last Thursday night they played host to the Graceville Tigers and recorded a 67-40 win. The Bulldogs got balanced scoring as Kendall Leeks led the way with 18 points and Kruize Pinkins added 13. R.J. Bowers and Tre Jackson each chipped in 9 for the Bulldogs. Cameron Dozier led Graceville with 17 points.

Graceville hung close early on as Marianna held a slim 14-11 lead at the end of the first quarter. But Marianna outscored the Tigers 20-8 in the second quarter and began to put some distance between themselves and the Tigers. The third quarter was even more of a struggle for Graceville as the Bulldogs outscored them 19-4 in that quarter. In JV action Marianna won 56-34 as Qua Royster pumped in 25 points and Emanuel Batson hit 16. Delante Oliver-Barnes hit 16 for the JV Tigers.

They hit the road on Friday night, traveling to Sneads and notching a 70-43 win over the Pirates. Nehemiah Gilbert hit back to back 3 pointers for the Bulldogs to start the game and Pinkins dominated inside as Marianna took a 20-10 first quarter lead. Josh Rogers led the Pirates with 5 first quarter points. The Bulldogs outscored the Pirates 17-10 in the second quarter as Jackson heated up from the outside. Marianna led 37-20 at the half.

The second half saw Sneads continue to battle but not make up much ground. A tip in late in the quarter by Pinkins gave the Bulldogs a 46-35 lead going into the final quarter. A Pirate 3 pointer by Terrence Green cut the Bulldog lead to 9 points to start the fourth quarter. But Marianna then went on a 16-0 run as Pinkins, Jackson, Leeks, Tre Long and Gilbert all made sure the Pirates rally was dead in the water. The Pirates, who battled hard for 3 ½ quarters went almost five minutes in the final quarter without a point.

Pinkins led Marianna with 18 points, Leeks followed with 11 and Long added 11 points. Gilbert was the fourth Bulldog in double figures with 10 points. Sneads was led by Jamar White with 11 and Green with 10. In JV action Marianna won 60-35 as Emanuel Batson and Troy Durant each hit 10 points. The Sneads JV was led by Aaron Green with 13 and Devin Hayes with 12.