Indians split sub-region games with Vidalia, East Laurens

Dodge County News, January 14, 2009

By Chad W. Smith

The Dodge County Indians basketball team split sub-region games with Vidalia and East Laurens last week. The Indians held on to defeat Vidalia 67-64 on Tuesday, January 6, in one of their best played games of the season and then lost to East Laurens on Friday, January 9 in another hard fought thriller 58-56. The Indians are now 2-2 in the sub-region.

Against Vidalia, Dodge ran out to an 11-2 lead midway through the first quarter before things tightened up and Dodge led 17-13 after one quarter. Telvin Strutchens led with five points in the quarter. Jermayne Hamilton and Leonard Floyd had four points each. Both teams scored 15 points in the second quarter as Dodge still held the lead at 32-28. Cyprin Burse led Dodge with six points in the quarter. Freshman Leonard Floyd led Dodge to a 52-42 lead after three quarters with 11 points of his game high 19 points in the third quarter. Vidalia outscored Dodge 22-15 in the final quarter but the Indians of Dodge prevailed 67-64. Jermayne Hamilton led Dodge with six points in the final quarter including free-throws down the stretch to seal the game.

Final scoring for the Indians against Vidalia was: Leonard Floyd, 19 points; Jermayne Hamilton, 16 points; Cyprin Burse, 11 points; Telvin Strutchens, 11 points; Herschel Anderson, four points; Javarris Gordon, four points; Calvin Nash, one point.

Telvin Strutchens had six points in the first quarter to lead Dodge to 17-10 first quarter lead over the East Laurens Falcons. Jermayne Hamilton and Strutchens each had four points in the second quarter as the Indians outscored the Falcons 16-15 and led 33-25 at the half. The Indians held a slim 44-42 lead after three quarter as the Falcons outscored Dodge 17-11. Hamilton led with four points in the quarter and Herschel Anderson added a three-pointer. Jermayne Hamilton scored 10 of his game high 22 points in the fourth quarter, but the Indians fell 58-56 as East Laurens hit two free throws with .7 seconds left to steal the victory from Dodge.

Final scoring for Dodge against East Laurens was: Jermayne Hamilton, 22 points; Leonard Floyd, eight points; Cyprin Burse, seven points; Telvin Strutchens, seven points; Javarris Gordon, four points; Herschel Anderson, three points; Calvin Nash, two points; Laquan Hogue, two points.

The Indians were scheduled to host Dublin on Tuesday, January 13 before hitting the road to Toombs County on Friday, January 16 at 7:00 p.m. and Laney of August on Saturday, January 17 at 5:00 p.m. They return on home on Tuesday, January 20 against Bleckley County at 6:00 p.m.