Bulldogs add big three-point wins over Sparta and Mountain Grove

Gainesville senior Easton McGee swished a three-pointer at the buzzer to seal a home-court 53-50 victory over top-ranked Sparta on Thursday, Jan. 18. The Bulldogs showed their heart in this game, battling back from a 16-point deficit in the third quarter to beat a very tough Class 3 Trojan team, who held a 14-3 record prior to their trip to Gainesville.

“I was really proud of how the guys continued to battle throughout that game,” said GHS Head Coach Chris Randolph after the game. “There were many times it would have been easier to give up. You get down 16 in the third quarter to one of the top-ranked teams in the state in class 3, and it’s no easy task to get back in the game. All of our guys stayed engaged in the game and kept doing the things we were asking them to do. We were able to battle all the way back and come out on top.”

Senior Andrew Hambelton led the scoring with 15 points, followed by Easton McGee with 14 and Harmon Johns with 9. Jace Headrick scored 6 points, followed by Nathan Kiger with 5 and Grant Leeker and Hunter Luna with 2 each. Hambelton and Kiger led the rebounding column with 6 each. Hambelton also led in assists with 3. Johns and McGee chalked up 2 steals agains the Trojans.

“I’m super happy for those guys to be able to go get a win like that,” Randolph said. “Hopefully we can carry that momentum into games we have coming up.” 

The momentum did indeed continue when the Bulldogs traveled to Mountain Grove the next night and pulled off another nail-biting 3-point victory when they defeated the Panthers 54-51.

Bulldog fans are hoping the energy continues when Gainesville travels to Sparta to compete in the Sparta Trojans Tournament Jan. 22-29. Schools participating in the tournament are Aurora Christian, Ava, Crocker, Fair Grove, Gainesville, Mansfield and Sparta. 

The Bulldogs were slated to play Mansfield at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 21. Results of that game were unavailable at presstime