The Pike County Bulldogs exploded for 50 points in the second half, as they crushed the cross-county rival Goshen Eagles Saturday night in Brundidge, 79-43.

“This was a real good win for us,” PCHS head coach Doug Holland said. “With this being a rivalry game both teams came out pumped up in the first half. But we settled into our offense in the second half and did what we needed to for the win.”

The Eagles kept it close through the entire first half. If Pike County (8-4) widened the lead, the Eagles slimmed it back down again. Goshen only trailed 29-21 at the half, but PCHS outscored Goshen 50-22 in the second half for the dominating victory.

Holland believes the Bulldogs were simply the more in-shape team.

“I think our conditioning allowed us to widen our lead in the second half,” he said. “We were just able to wear them down and get easy shots at the basket.”

The Bulldogs had four players with double-digit point totals. Tevin Andrews led the pack with 21 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Quay Bailey chipped in a double-double with 14 points and 10 assists. He added five rebounds.

But Josh Parker caught fire in the second half from behind the three-point arc and finished with 20 points. Parker made six three-pointers in the game. Kendrick Jackson was the other Bulldog in double digits with 11 points and he added four rebounds.

Martellis Foster chipped in six points and Jared Snell had four points. Deandre Mathis pulled down 10 rebounds.

Senior Antwon Boswell led the way for the Eagles with 16 points and Justin Senn contributed nine points. Tyreese Wingard had six points.

The win was a good stepping stone into area play, according to Holland.

“I know this will be a big momentum booster for our squad heading into area,” he said. “Everyone is understanding their role on the team and we are deep on the bench, which will help us in area play.”

The Pike County Lady Bulldogs made it a little more interesting, but they also picked up a victory Saturday night against the visiting Lady Eagles. Pike County clipped the Lady Eagles 24-22 in the waning seconds of the game on two free throws from Tierra Hall.

“We were up by two and we had an inbounds play where I told them to hold the ball, but Tierra took a shot and Goshen went down and tied the game,” PCHS head coach Kasey Parker said. “But I couldn’t be mad at her because she made up for it by hitting those two free throws.”

Before Hall hit the free throws the Lady ‘Dawgs had only hit two free throws all night.

“In the last three practices we had done something like 150 free throws,” Parker said. “And before Tierra hit those two I was wondering why we did that. But she hit them when it mattered most and we needed them.”

Parker was proud of how her team held on through a nip-and-tuck game.

“I am so proud of them with how they never gave up tonight,” she said. “We pulled it out.”

From the other bench, GHS head coach Lindsey Hornbuckle said the game was a tough pill to swallow.

“We just didn’t show up to play tonight,” Hornbuckle said. “Pike County just showed the most heart tonight and they wanted it more than us.”

Ronique Boyd, Ashley Flowers and Becca Parker each chipped in five points in the PCHS win. Hall had four points. Kim Hamilton had three points and Deven Russell added two points.

Diamond Cottrell led the Lady Eagles with seven points. Jasmine Jones chipped in six points. Nyokia Slater had four points, Destinie Barnes and Alexis Siler had two points and Ivia Pollard had one point.

The Bulldogs and Lady Bulldogs open area play Tuesday on the road against Headland. Tip off is set for 4:30 p.m. for the B team game. Goshen heads to Luverne Tuesday and tip off of the B team game is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. as well.