Bulldogs Demolish Onalaska

Messenger Sports
ONALASKA – Coaches always like to see their team’s peaking towards the end of the season going into the playoffs, and fortunately for Bulldogs Head Coach David Drafahl, the Crocket Bulldogs are definitely trending up. The Bulldogs traveled to Onalaska on Tuesday night and waltzed out with an impressive 84-27 win over the Wildcats.
While the Bulldogs offense put on a clinic, it was the defense that stole the spotlight for the majority of the night. In front of the Wildcats home crowd, the Bulldogs would hold Onalaska to just 13 points through three quarters of play.
Crockett opened the game on fire, unlike the previous meeting where Onalaska surged to an eight point lead in the opening quarter. In this meeting the Bulldogs left all doubt at the door as they jumped out on the Wildcats early behind the play of Dominique Wheeler, Tevin Collins, and AD Smith. The trio helped push the Bulldogs to a 21-6 lead after the first quarter.
In the second quarter Collins went off for 10 points to help the Bulldogs pad their lead. Smith would score five more, while the defense locked in on the Wildcats. The Bulldogs would outscore Onalaska 23-6 in the second quarter to give themselves a comfortable 44-12 lead at the half.
Things didn’t get any better for the Wildcats in the third quarter when the Bulldogs turned up the intensity. Crockett would hold the Wildcats scoreless from the field and allow just one free throw in the quarter on their way to outscoring Onalaska 30-1. The Bulldogs got contributions from everyone in the frame, as eight different Bulldogs scored in the third quarter alone. After leading 44-12 at the half, Crockett saw themselves leading 74-13 after the third quarter.
Crockett would coast to the finish in the final quarter, burning clock time with the victory well in hand. The Bulldogs would back off their patented full-court press, and spend the rest of the game in a zone defense, helping run down the clock and finish off an 84-27 victory.
The Bulldogs were good for three treys on the evening as they were hitting on all pistons throughout the night. Crockett finished the game with three players in double-digit scoring, with two players hitting the 20-point mark.
AD Smith and Tevin Collins each were good for 20 points on the night with Collins scoring 10 of his 20 in the second quarter. Smith used a much more balanced approach, scoring in all four quarters with seven points coming in the third quarter.
Dominique Wheeler added 11 points, as the senior guard continues to ignite the Bulldogs offense since returning from a knee injury that kept him sidelined for the better part of a month. Xavier Berry added eight points in the win with Colby Berry chipping in seven points of his own. Carlton Shirley scored six points with Matthew Schaeffer and Michael McKnight scoring five points apiece. Adrian Dupree would round out the Bulldogs offense with two points on the night.
The Bulldogs were at home on Friday night with the New Waverly Bulldogs (6-2) rolling into town. New Waverly shocked the Bulldogs with a 70-66 win in their first meeting of district play.
Crockett will hit the road on Tuesday, February 7 when travel to face the Groveton Indians (1-8). Crockett dismantled the Indians in a 72-21 win during the first half of district play.
For pictures and a complete recap of the Bulldogs home game against New Waverly, as well as other area basketball news, check back in The Messenger. Also follow The Messenger on Facebook and check out our website at www.messenger-news.com. Chris Boothe can be reached at cboothe@messenger-news.com.