Gainesville Bulldogs compete in games despite broken hearts
Photo credit Chris Carlson Photography Gainesville junior Grant Leeker shoots for two points during the Friday night consolation game at the Forsyth basketball tournament. Leeker led the scoring for the Bulldogs in all three games of the tournament.
The Gainesville Bulldogs varsity boys basketball team traveled to Forsyth last week to compete in the 64th annual Forsyth Tournament.
The Bulldogs lost a close 90-85 battle with Class 1 Lebanon in the opening round on Monday, Dec. 2. Following the loss, the Bulldogs were slated to take on Hollister in the semi-finals of the consolation bracket on Thursday, Dec. 5.
Between those two games, however, the unthinkable happened. Tuesday night, GHS junior Lady Bulldogs basketball player Andrea Winrod, who was a lifelong friend to many of the players on the boys team, passed away in a car accident (see pages 1, 5).
Carrying a load of heartache and grief, the Bulldogs returned to Forsyth on Thursday and battled bravely against Hollister, winning 64-43.
Grant Leeker, junior, led the scoring with 21 points for the Bulldogs, followed by senior Hunter Luna with 15 and Dawson Hewett with 14. Owen Donley and Avery Rodrigue each had 6 points, and Brayden Frye chipped in 2. Luna led the rebounding column with 7, followed by Leeker with 6 and Hewett and Rodrigue with 5 each. Hewett led the assist column with 4.
The Bulldogs returned to Forsyth on Friday to play Forsyth’s JV in the consolation round, but despite a comeback in the third quarter, the Bulldogs lost a close one, 48-44.
Grant Leeker led the scoring efforts for the Bulldogs with 17 points, followed by Owen Donley with 15. Others scoring for the Bulldogs were Dawson Hewett 7, Kolby Anderson 3, and Brayden Frye with 2.
“I felt like we had stretches in all three games where we demonstrated a lot of good qualities. The games definitely give us an idea of where we are at as a team and some areas we must work on moving forward,” said Coach Morris Jenkins. “The week was obviously emotional for the school, team and community as a whole. Our hearts continue to hurt for the Winrod family and all who have been so deeply impacted. I was proud of our team for persevering through the difficult circumstances.”
Carl Junction wound up winning the tournament after squeaking by Forsyth, 74-73 in the championship game.
The Bulldogs will travel to Ava to take on the Bears Friday, Dec. 13. The JV takes the floor at 6 p.m., followed by the varsity contest.