By Pamela Whitlow
The Dog Palace was packed to capacity last Friday night as the hometown LaFayette Bulldogs and the Valley Rams played in their final meeting of the season. It was standing room only and the atmosphere was very tense with anticipation for the match up.
Every year the LaFayette versus Valley game is considered as one of the prime time games of the season because of the rivalry between the two teams.
The game started out with both teams competing for early supremacy with Valley gaining a slight edge over the Dogs. Both teams went back and forth throughout the first half. The Bulldogs held their own and closed out the half trailing the Rams by seven points, 31-24.
In the second half both teams would come out slow with neither team scoring for the first two minutes of the third quarter. The scoring drought would end with a Valley player going to the free throw line and making two free throws.
This would spark a 16-2 run for the Rams over the next few minutes of the third quarter. The Bulldogs offense would eventually pick up towards the end of the quarter, but by then the Rams had stretched the seven point halftime advantage to a 21-point margin by the end of the third.
That was all the Rams needed to get the win. LaFayette would cut the lead to seventeen in the fourth with several opportunities to close the gap even more.
Poor shooting and turnovers plagued the Bulldogs offense all night long. The Bulldogs were 1-12 shooting from the three point line, while Valley made 8 of their 27 attempts. Valley would prove to be too much for the Bulldogs on this night, defeating the Dogs 67-48.
Vaderrian Story had a stellar game for the Bulldogs leading all scorers with 21-points.
Branaviyun Story also had a good night for the Dogs as well pouring in 14-points.
Jay Harper led the way for the visiting Rams with 17-points.
The LaFayette girls fell short to the Rams for a second time this season. Valley controlled the game from start to finish and the Lady Bulldogs could never seem to get anything to go their way. The Lady Rams put on a dominant performance over powering the Lady Bulldogs 51-24.
In JV action the Bulldogs fell short to the Rams 38-25.
LaFayette also hosted the Beauregard Hornets last Tuesday night. It was never a question of what the Bulldogs intentions were for the Hornets.
The Bulldogs dominated the Hornets from beginning to end, never giving the Hornets any hope of winning on this night. The Bulldogs came out strong and were up on the Hornets by 30 plus points at the half. The Bulldogs picked up the second half where they left off in the first and cruised to a 82-45 victory.
The JV came out on top as well over the Hornets 39-27.
On Monday it was the battle of the Bulldogs. The LaFayette Bulldogs traveled up Highway 77 North to Wadley, Alabama to do battle with the Wadley High Bulldogs.
This was the first meeting of the season for the two teams. The Bulldogs took care of business on the road with a good win over Wadley 72-57.
The Bulldogs will travel to Roanoke on Thursday evening for their second meeting of the season against the Handley Tigers.
LaFayette will have their Senior Night on Friday, February 2nd. at LaFayette Gymnasium during the LaFayette versus Wadley game.
This will be the Bulldogs last game of the regular season with the 2A Area 6 tournament beginning on Monday, February 5th, at LaFayette Gymnasium.