Published: November 21, 2009 12:48 pm      

Slow start, foul trouble cost Pugs

A slow start and early foul trouble cost the Paoli Pugs in their season opener losing to the Alex Longhorns 59-45 Tuesday in Alex.

Paoli’s big men Cody Travis and Jake Ely went to the bench in the second quarter with three and four fouls respectively. Paoli finished with two starters fouling out and two more with four fouls each.

Alex got off to an 8-2 start and never trailed in the game. Paoli finally got rolling with two minutes left in the first quarter behind a 6-2 run that cut the lead to 10-8 at the end of the first quarter.

Alex took off to start the second quarter with a 9-2 run and Paoli played catch-up the rest of the night.

Daniel Gibson went a quarter and a half before he finally found his groove for the Pugs. Gibson scored a game high 18-points for the Pugs including eight points in the final part of the first half. Paoli cut the lead to four late in the second quarter before Alex made a late charge to push the lead to seven at the half.

Gibson continued to lead the Pugs in the second half helping cut the lead to six in the middle of the third quarter. Alex finished off the third quarter with an 11-0 run to open up a 17-point lead. Manika had six points of his team high 17 points in the run.

Alex pushed the lead to 19 on two different occasions in the fourth quarter. Dustin Mooney had seven points in the final two minutes to help cut the lead to the final margin of 14.

Carnes had 12 and Heffington scored 11 points to join Manika in double figures for the Longhorns. Gibson was the only Pug in double figures with Jerry Johnson coming close with nine.

Paoli will be at Thackerville tonight as they look for win No. 1.



Alex 59, Paoli 45

Paoli 8 14 8 15 - 45

Alex 10 19 18 12 - 59

Paoli — Daniel Gibson 18, Jerry Johnson 9, Dustin Mooney 7, Zach Jeandemange 4, Rickey Jeandemange 3, Cody Travis 2, Jake Ely 2.

Alex — Manika 17, Carnes 12, Heffington 11, A. Helm 6, Payne 5, Anderson 3, Rogers 2, Collins 2, Bray 1