By: Eddy Gifford, Publisher

 The Dade County Wolverine basketball team returned to action last Friday night after the Jan. 15th game was canceled. The cancelled game gave the team a chance to catch their breath after such a busy schedule since returning to the hardwood after Christmas break.

The Yellow Jackets of Calhoun came to town as the top team in Region 7AA and the Wolverines were looking for revenge for an earlier season loss at Calhoun.

The game started with Jarrett Page shooting three free throws, making two to give the Wolverines an early – and their only – lead.

The Yellow Jackets responded with eight unanswered points and set the tone for the rest of the game.

The Yellow Jackets defense slowed the Wolverine scoring machine of Cole Birchfield and Clynt Bell – holding the pair to only four first quarter points, which were all made by Birchfield.

While the defense was stifling the Wolverine scoring the Yellow Jackets were knocking down three pointers, four in the first quarter, to take a 21-9 lead.

The Wolverines played better in the second quarter, thanks to hitting eight of 12 free throws, but still trailed the visiting Yellow Jackets 32-23 at the end of the first half.

At the end of the half Birchfield had scored nine points, seven of those were free throws and Bell had only one point. The teammates had been averaging over 25 points per game each.

In the second half the Yellow Jacket defense kept up the pressure but Birchfield came to life early in the third quarter scoring 11 straight points for the Wolverines, including three straight three pointers. That cut the visitors’ lead to only a single point, 35-34, but the Wolverines could never retake the lead.

Heading into the fourth quarter the Yellow Jackets were up 49-41.

Birchfield hit the first shot of the fourth quarter to cut it to 49-43 but six straight points by the Yellow Jackets sealed the Wolverines fate as they couldn’t get any closer the remainder of the game.

After falling behind by 17 a Wolverine time-out seemed to motivate them as they scored six quick points to cut it to 60-49.

The Yellow Jackets responded by hitting six of nine free throws down the stretch to claim a 68-54 win.

The home loss was a rare one for the Wolverines and dropped them to 4-3 in region play.

Birchfield led the Wolverines with 25 points and was the only Wolverine in double figures. Dustin Howard and Clynt Bell scored seven each. Birchfield and Howard grabbed eight rebounds each with Howard also blocking six shots.

This week the Wolverines traveled to Model Tuesday and will host Armuchee Friday.

Calhoun  21   11   17  19  68

Dade        9   14   18   13  54

Dade (54)-Cole Birchfield 25, Howard 7, Chitwood 3, Sharp 2, Bell 7, Gaddis 6, Walden 2, Page 2

Three Point Field Goals: Dade 5 (Birchfield 4, Bell)

Other highlights:  Birchfield 8r; Howard 8r, 6b (DC)