Bulldogs headed to Regional Semifinals against Hawkins

The Marlin Bulldogs are heading on in the basketball playoffs.

The basketball team traveled to West on Tuesday, Feb. 18, to take on the Kerens Bobcats in the Bi-Distict round of the playoffs. Marlin defeated the Bobcats, winning 61-37. 

The Bulldogs started the scoring with a three point make by Jordan Womack (4) for a 3-0 lead. The game stayed even until the first quarter ended with Marlin ahead 12-10. 

The Bulldogs started the second quarter with a bang, scoring on an amazing alley oop dunk by Roderick Suiters (1) from Jaidan Womack (11) for a 14-10 lead. Marlin continued their scoring run and grew their lead to 19-10. The Bulldogs widened their margin to double digits with a three point make by Aarik Smith-Shelley (12) for a 22-12 advantage. Marlin stayed aggressive with a layup by Jaidan Womack to make it a 28-17 lead. The Bulldogs went into halftime ahead 28-20. 

Marlin scored first in the second quarter with a free throw from Jaidan Womack to take a 29-20 lead. The Bulldogs began to pull away and expanded their lead to 38-25. Marlin stayed aggressive with a fastbreak layup by Jordan Womack for a 40-25 advantage. The third quarter ended with Marlin way ahead 44-28. 

Marlin scored first in the fourth quarter with a layup by Jordan Womack to take a commanding 46-28 lead. The Bulldogs piled on with a layup by Suiters to grow the margin to 48-32. That was soon followed with a basket by Smith-Shelley for a 52-34 lead. Marlin surged ahead to win the game 61-37. 

Marlin traveled to Jewett at Leon High School to take on the Frankston Indians in the Area round on Feb. 21. The Bulldogs defeated Frankston in a 46-45 overtime thriller that they won on a buzzer beater. 

Marlin forced overtime with the score tied at 39. The Indians had made two big free throws with four seconds left to go up 45-44, then Smith-Shelley launched an inbound pass (what they call a touchdown pass) that found its way into Suiters hands and he made the go ahead layup. Frankston launched a prayer shot of their own, but it missed wide and Marlin won the game 46-45. 

Next up for the Bulldogs was the Hawkins Hawks in the Regional Semi-Finals on Tuesday, Feb. 25. Due to press times, coverage will be in next week’s edition.