Talbotton — Led by A.J. Smith’s career-high 40-point outburst Friday, Dooly County High’s boys extended their winning string to nine games — a feat unmatched by any Bobcats squad for at least the last 15 years.

Just one season after coach Towandi King’s squad had set a previous high of consecutive wins (8), the new mark at least since the 1997-98 campaign came by a 62-50 score at the expense of Central Talbotton’s Hawks.

That victory enabled Dooly to break even in a Region 4-A twin bill that began with the Central girls handing the Lady Bobcats their fifth loss in the last six starts, 65-49.

The doubleheader split left the Dooly boys with a record of 11-3 overall, 7-1 in league play and the girls with a mark of 3-11, 2-6. Both will be at home Tuesday at 6 p.m. against host Schley County.

Bobcats 62, Hawks 50

Using the press and the fast break as major weapons and winning the battle of the boards to boot, Dooly seldom trailed in a game that saw it claim quarter advantages of 15-10, 28-23 and 51-33.

“They couldn’t stay with us when we ran the break and they wilted against our press,” said scorekeeper Sharal Young in reporting game results for the Dooly team coached by her son.

Smith’s big night included a 10-point first quarter and a 16-point third period production that included two treys and five deuces one of which was a stuff. LaParris Hall was the only other Bobcat to reach double digits. His 15-point effort included four dunks.

Central Talbotton was led by Tevin Carter with 25 points 15 of which he recorded in the final stanza.     

Score by Quarters

Dooly County 15-13-23-11 — 62

Central Talbotton 10-13-10-17 — 50

Scoring

   Dooly County (62) — Trevoski Lundy 3, LaParris Hall 15, Jamari Baker 2, Devoin Mathis 4, A.J. Smith 40, Nick Taylor, Tracey Linkhorn, Ray Adams, Mark Lloyd, Mickey Granville, Rashard Hamilton, Antonious Clayton.

   Team totals: field goals 25; free throws 10 of 17 (58.8%); fouls 14; 3-pointers — Smith 2; fouled out — none.

   Central Talbotton (50) — Faizon Terrey 9, Mardrevius Sheffield 5, Janelius Marshall 5, Jaunyai Mitchell 4, Tevin Carter 25, Raytez Jenkins 2.

   Team totals: field goals 20; free throws 8 of 13 (61.5%); fouls 14; 3-pointers — Marshall 1, Terrey 1; fouled out — none.

Central 65, Dooly 49 (girls)

In absorbing their setback, the Lady Bobcats were reminded that it’s not how many fouls are called, but rather when those personals are whistled that frequently prove decisive.

Despite being charged with six less fouls and shooting 11 more free throws than the Lady Hawks, coach David Barron’s visitors seldom held a lead once they fell behind 14-6 at the end of the first quarter.

After trimming its deficit to just four (28-24) at halftime, Dooly was outscored 20-14 in the third period and 17-11 in the final canto. It thus ultimately suffered an eighth double-digit loss of the season.

“We couldn’t seem to catch a break from the officials as just about every foul we committed sent Central to the (free throw) line for a couple of shots,” Young said. “When that happened, we got discouraged and they (the Lady Hawks) were able to pull away from us.”

Dooly did produce a pair of twin-column pointmakers in Quanesha Tookes with 18 and Tridedria Burke with 16. Burke also came up big on the boards where the Lady Bobcats had a slight edge in rebounds.

Tatiyana Mahone poured in a game-high 36 points for Central, getting 26  of them in the second half when her team gradually widened the gap between it and its guest. Cavana Epps added 17 to the winners’ cause.

Score by Quarters

Dooly County 6-18-14-11 — 49

Central Talbotton 14-14-20-17 — 65

Scoring

   Dooly County (49) — Quadesha Tookes 1, Quanesha Tookes 18, Tridedra Burke 16, Jessica Hightower 4, Gereka Sanders 3, Shy’Lexia Hall 7, Kee Kee Granville, Shaniquelin Johnson, Alexis Lester, C’nia Felder, Maya Ellison, Daja Williams.

   Team totals: field goals 16; free throws 16 of 31 (51.6%); fouls 21; 3-pointers — Burke 1; fouled out — Hall, Quanesha Tookes.



   Central Talbotton (65) — Tatiyana Mahone 36, Tagera Howard 2, Jormesha Barron 4, Shambrecia Dugger 2, Amanda Youngblood 2, Cavana Epps 17, Aitannia Marshall 2.

   Team totals: field goals 26; free throws 13 of 20 (65%); fouls 27; 3-pointers — none; fouled out — none.