Park High Rangers faced off against the Hardin Bulldogs on Feb. 2 with the game ending in a close 71-62 for Hardin after many ups and downs for the Rangers.The Rangers lead the game at the end of the first quarter 19-13, but a hard defensive press by Hardin combined with fouls from the Rangers allowed the Bulldogs to take a commanding 34-29 lead by halftime. The Bulldogs capitalized on the Rangers’ poor rebound control, tying the game at 21-21 with four minutes left in the second quarter.
Houston Dunn, the Rangers’ leading score for the game, put up 10 points in the first half of the game. Dunn would later foul out of the game late in the 4th quarter with 14 points. Dunn was only five points away from the highest point scorer of the game with 19 points. Kimball Smith for the Rangers finished right behind Houston Dunn with 13 points in the game. Even with Dunn and Smith putting up impressive numbers, the Rangers were unable to catch the Hardin Bulldogs once they took the lead in the second quarter.
After losing the lead, the Rangers would allow Hardin to pull away three times. Each time the Rangers would respond with their own drive but would come up short. The Bulldogs lead the Rangers by 10 points three different times. The Rangers would close the gap all three times but never gained enough defensive strength to retake the lead from Hardin.
Lliam Edwards said Friday’s game was one of their highest energy games he has played. Edwards also said that the game shows Park High does not give up. “We play though adversity and never quit,” the sophomore center said. Edwards also expressed the importance of carrying this level of energy and team building on to the postseason.