Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By ANDREW SIMONSON | Sports Editor

MONTEVALLO – The Montevallo Bulldogs used the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day holiday to earn their third win in five days as the offense lifted them to another victory.

Montevallo defeated the Jefferson Christian Eagles 77-68 on Monday, Jan. 20 at Montevallo High School to extend its win streak to three games in a row.

The teams engaged in a high-scoring battle from the first quarter. The Eagles outpaced the Bulldogs in the first quarter to grab the early lead, but Keiston Ross, Nahjear Russell and Dee Cutts helped keep the game close as each player scored five points in the opening period.

JCA took a 24-17 lead into the second quarter, but the Montevallo defense helped turn the tide over the course of the next eight minutes.

The Bulldogs surrendered just four points in the second, allowing the offense to continue its strong start and take advantage. Cutts dropped seven points in the second quarter to get into double figures for the half and spearhead the Montevallo offensive response.

As a result, the Bulldogs swung the lead in their favor ahead of the halftime break and led 30-28 going into the locker room.

However, that defensive success did not last into the third quarter as the Eagles scored 26 points in the third.

That left Montevallo trying to keep up and hang on to its lead. Russell scored nine points to lead the offense while Buck Ross had six third-quarter points and Keiston Ross scored four more points to put all three in double figures.

The Bulldogs fell behind though and trailed 54-51 going into the fourth and final quarter.

Needing a big effort to come back and get over the finish line, Montevallo got exactly that in the form of a 26-point offensive showing in the fourth quarter.

Buck Ross dropped 10 points in the fourth while Keiston Ross and Demeco Gibson each had five points and Russell scored four more points. As a team, the Bulldogs went 8-14 from the free throw line to help keep the Eagles at bay down the stretch.

JCA could only offer up 14 more points in response as Montevallo took home the nine-point victory.

Buck Ross led the way with 20 points, Russell scored 18 points, Keiston Ross dropped 16 points and Cutts posted 14 points. In addition, Gibson finished with seven points, including five in the fourth quarter.

The Bulldogs improved to 14-10 overall with the win.