Dothan loses to Ashford in basketball opener

After struggling in the first half, Ashford’s D.C. Condrey got untracked in the second to lead the Yellow Jackets to a 67-51 victory over Dothan High in the opener for both teams Friday night at Jon Davis Gym.

Condrey, a senior sharpshooter, scored 23 points — 20 following intermission — as the Yellow Jackets pulled away late against the homestanding Tigers.

“In the first half I was just rushing shots,” Condrey said. “In the second half I settled down and took good shots.”

Dothan coach Bill Porter Jr., making his debut at the helm after spending the past two years at Headland, said his team got beat
in most phases of the game.

“We’ve got a sign in the locker room that says ‘Defend, rebound and take care of the ball,’ and we didn’t do any of those three things,” Porter said.

Dothan led 23-22 at the end of the first half, but Ashford became the aggressor offensively in the second half to take charge.

The Yellow Jackets often penetrated to the basket and converted, or drew fouls against the Dothan defense.

“In the second half, we played as a team,” Ashford coach Bill Herbert said. “The first half, everybody was playing as an individual. In the second half we got better shots and we went back to the zone and it helped inside.”

With Ashford leading 48-35 after Condrey canned a 3-pointer to end the third quarter, Dothan fought back to score 11 of the first 13 points of the fourth quarter to pull within 50-46.

Dothan guard Greg Marsh hit two 3-pointers during the stretch, and the Tiger inside duo of Khiry Thomas and Stephen Trawick accounted for the other five points as they asserted themselves down low.

“We knew coming in that’s our strength,” Porter said of Dothan’s post play. “At times tonight, it worked when we went to it.”

Following Dothan’s strong run to begin the fourth, Ashford responded with a 13-2 run to put the game away.

Dothan’s lone basket in that stretch came when Trawick scored low to make it 53-48, but then Ashford’s Tim James scored while slashing to the basket while being fouled and made the free throw.

James then came up with a steal on the ensuing possession and scored on a layup to make it 58-48 with 2:27 left.

“I thought the key to the game for us was Tim James’ hustle,” Herbert said. “He showed leadership.”

James followed Condrey in scoring with 17 for Ashford.

Dothan was led by Marsh with 14 and Thomas with 11.

Ashford girls 38, Dothan 37, OT: Kara Brooks drove the lane, made a nice spin move and completed the play with a strong basket to give Ashford the lead with 5.1 seconds left and the victory.

With the score tied 28-28 in regulation with 1.4 seconds left, Dothan had the final chance as it inbounded the ball on its end of the floor.

But the Tigers never got a shot off under good Ashford pressure, and the game went into the extra period.

In overtime, Dothan’s Charmine Ward scored from the top of the key to pull the Tigers within one point with 1:04 left.

Ashford then ran the clock down and called a timeout with 11.9 seconds left.

On the inbounds, Ward stole the ball and was fouled. She then hit both free throws to give Dothan the lead with 10.7 seconds left before Brooks scored the winning basket for Ashford.

Brooks scored 13 to lead the Yellow Jackets.

Ward scored 16 for the Tigers.