News-Times Staff
DERMOTT - Jadarrius Dixon beat the buzzer with a game-tying 3-pointer, and Strong took matters over from there, as the Bulldogs won the 8-1A East District Tournament with an 84-78 overtime win over Dermott on Friday night.
The Bulldogs (13-13) will be the league's No. 1 seed for next week's regional tournament at Hampton.
Friday's win was the second straight overtime triumph for the Bulldogs, who outlasted Woodlawn on Thursday.
"Two nights in a row, it went to overtime, and it was unbelievable," said Strong coach Greg Anthony. "The last two, three weeks, they have believed in one another. I've never been prouder of a group in my 30 years of coaching."
How the Bulldogs forced the extra session is an unbelievable story itself.
Trailing by six with 10 seconds left, Dixon scored on a layup to cut the Rams' lead to four.
Then LeAndrew Greer stole the inbounds pass and found Trey Smith for a layup to make it a two-point game.
Forced to foul, the Bulldogs had one final shot after the Rams' trip to the free-throw line resulted in a split.
They took advantage, as Smith found Dixon, who banked home a 3-pointer to tie the game at 69.
In overtime, the Bulldogs got the job at the charity stripe, going 9-of-13 to help put the game away.
Dixon had 23 points, with 14 coming in the fourth quarter and overtime.
Derrion Davis had 20 points, including six in overtime.
Davis was a perfect 4-for-4 at the foul line in overtime.
Smith had 19 points and Desmond Newton added 14 points in the win.