Cats power past Dothan

A strong third quarter propelled the Enterprise boys basketball team to a 40-25 victory Jan. 27 on the road against Dothan.

"I think Dothan started off the wrong way, got into a lull," EHS boys basketball coach Alonzo Barkley said. "They tried to fight their way out in the second and third quarters. It didn’t work out, and we were able to just maintain the momentum. We didn’t give it away. I’m proud of my guys."

The lead changed hands four times in a low-scoring first quarter, and EHS had a 7-4 lead when the second quarter began.

E.J. Scott started the frame with a 3, and Mason Jordan made a free throw before Dothan scored to stop the Enterprise streak. 

With EHS up 13-6 later in the quarter, Dothan went on an 8-2 run to cut the Cats' lead to one.

Dennis Chastang hit a shot, Sam Purvis drained a 3-pointer and Enterprise finished the second half on a 5-0 run.

The Wildcats had a 20-14 lead at halftime.

"We didn’t do everything perfectly, but (we had) resilience and guys making plays when we needed them," Barkley said. "Dennis Chastang was huge. C.J. Felder was huge. The length of the zone really hurt (Dothan), and rebounding when we needed them was big."

Enterprise separated itself in the third quarter, and limited Dothan's transition.

"We were able to keep Dothan to a half-court game," Barkley said. "They’re a front-running, fast-paced team. We didn’t let them do that tonight, and that played into our favor. We rebounded the basketball well. Guys came down and made big shots. Dennis played great and made big shots. C.J. (was) controlling the basketball. He had some turnovers, but he really controlled the tempo of the game by not choking it up too much."

After a Tiger free throw, EHS went on a 9-0 run, which included a 3 from Purvis, and took a 29-15 lead.

Dothan scored the next four points before EHS finished the quarter with a 3-pointer from Scott as part of a 5-0 run.

"That third quarter, just being able to execute down the stretch and make them play in a half-court game, that was huge," Barkley said. "I’m really proud of our (players)."

The Wildcats took a 34-19 lead into the fourth frame.

Dothan scored the first basket of the quarter, which was followed by a pair of free throws from Chris Dunford and a basket from Ja'Juan Hayes. 

The teams traded buckets before Dothan scored the final one of the game, but it was too little, too late.

"We were able to execute our offense in the fourth quarter," Barkley said. "That was big."

Scott and Chastang each had eight points to lead the Wildcats. 

C. J. Felder followed with seven. Purvis and Hayes each scored six. Dunford had two.

Enterprise shared the basketball well in the win, and Barkley said moving the ball is something the offense is built upon.

"Our team is based on that," he said. "We work well together just trying to get the basketball moved around to each other. We did a great job of it. Guys were finding open guys. I think we were playing with rhythm and playing with what suited us best, which is finding the open shooters. We’ve got plenty of them. Guys hit some timely 3s so that was big. Sam Purvis hit a couple of 3s. Ja’Juan Hayes, I believe hit some. We needed those."

The victory gave the Cats some confidence, but EHS' coach said it must used as a catalyst to more success.

"We’ve just got to build on it, and keep getting better," Barkley said. "That’s what we’re going to do. We’re going to focus on positives, build on it and not allow guys to get down."