OZARK – The Pike County Bulldogs fell to the Bullock County Hornets on Friday by a close margin in the first round of The Dothan Eagle Holiday Prep Classic in Ozark. The Hornets used a late foul to gain a two point lead, and Bullock County grabbed the 40-38 victory.

“It was up and down for us tonight,” Bulldogs head coach Doug Holland said.

The Bulldogs were up at the end of the first and second quarters, but the third quarter would prove to be the difference in the game.

The Bulldogs were outscored 16-6 by the Hornets after leading at the half 19-17.

Bullock County took an eight point lead into the fourth quarter, but the Bulldogs weren’t going to make things easy for them.

Kendrick Jackson started the fourth quarter with a dunk that immediately sent the momentum pendulum towards the Bulldogs side.

Jackson’s dunk accounted for two of his nine fourth-quarter points.

“We didn’t take care of the ball like we should have,” Holland said.

Key Bulldog turnovers in the fourth quarter led way to points for the Hornets.

The game was tied at 38 points a piece with the clock dwindling down inside of 10 seconds, and a foul called against Quay Bailey sent Anthony Pendleton to the line for the Hornets for a one-and-one, free throw situation.

Pendleton hit both free throws, and the Bulldogs couldn’t get a shot off in the closing seconds.

“Overall Bullock County played tough like we thought they would,” Holland said. “This was a good atmosphere. It was a good playoff type atmosphere. We knew it would be tough coming in here.”

Kendrick Jackson led the Bulldogs with 14 points in the game. Tevin Andrews added 11 points, and Martellius Foster added six.

The Bulldogs were eliminated from the tournament with the loss. Friday’s first round winners included Robert E. Lee, Enterprise, Barbour County, and the Hornets.

First round action continued on Saturday evening as well.