Doniphan downs Naylor on Homecoming

The Doniphan Dons went all out for homecoming night as they faced off against a longtime rival.

The Dons took on the Naylor Eagles on Friday in a much-needed win for both teams. After an evenly-matched battle, the Dons picked up their first conference win of the season with a 68-35 win over the Eagles.

Dons' head coach, Hunter Dilbeck, was happy to see his team win, and he would like to see them play the same way for the remainder of the season.

“I feel like we've gained a lot of momentum from this win,” Dilbeck said. “This was how we need to play from now on. Our defense has come along very well as the years progressed on, and it is a combination of that. We finally added in pushing the transition a bit more, and we just looked much more fluid tonight than we have all year.

The Dons broke a five-game losing streak and improved their record to 4-9 on the season. With the Dons entering the game with a 20-game winning streak over the Eagles, the momentum heading into the contest was high.

Both teams desperately needed a win tonight as a loss would land a team into a tough situation in the postseason. The game started with some solid offense from both teams as they traded baskets for most of the first quarter. Corey Hagood got things rolling for the Dons with a dagger from the three-point line, and he would play a major role in giving them the edge throughout the game.

The Dons would suffer through some adversity early as their leading scoring, Emmitt Jones, would exit the game briefly with an injury. Jones is currently averaging 23 points and eight rebounds, so the Dons needed to have all their ducks in a row for the first half.

Luckily, Jones would return in the second quarter to add some additional scoring for the Dons. Towards the end of the second quarter, the Dons would slowly start their run and extend the lead heading into halftime with a 29-16 lead over Naylor.

The Dons would quickly hit their stride at the start of the third. With multiple fast break baskets and free shots from the charity strike, the Dons found themselves in a comfortable position to coast to victory.

Hagood and Issac Rawlings led the Mules with 20 points apiece, while Jones added with 15 points. Sam Rose led Naylor with 16, Colby Sullivan chipped in with nine points and Junior McMoy added with five.

Dilbeck said for the Dons to keep their momentum rolling, they would need to play with the same defense they’ve played in the last few games.

“I've told them all year if we play defense like we know how, it doesn't matter who we line up against, as long as we take care of our business and stop them,” he said. “We're going to be in a lot of ball games moving forward, so our defense has to be on point. We're not a great offensive group, but we can always play defense, so that's what I've been trying to preach to them, and that's what we're going to continue to preach moving forward.”

The Dons will have a big test for their next matchup against East Prairie next Friday.