LaFAYETTE — The LaFayette Bulldogs remain strong as ever collectively, as the team defeated Valley for the second-straight time this season in a 53-43 decision on Tuesday night.

“It feels great to be 7-0 with these young men,” LaFayette boys head basketball coach Obadiah Threadgill said. “They work extremely hard, and they’re extremely talented.”

LaFayette turned up its effort defensively against the Rams in the final minutes of the game to pull out the victory.

“I think we played a good three quarters, and then at the end of the fourth quarter, our young players came out,” Valley boys head basketball coach Marshon Harper said. “We couldn’t get into offensive sets to get easy buckets. Everything was rushed.”

Valley played with a 9-man rotation during the game, so the usual full-court man-to-man looks the team plays went turned into a zone during the matchup. Among the players who were out for the Rams was senior forward T.J. Winston, who was out the game due to undisclosed reasons, Harper said.

Despite lacking a player who scored over 20 points on in the win, the Bulldogs had a balanced-scoring attack going in the game.  

Bulldogs star guard Corey Boston finished with 6 points, but junior Jordan Wallace stepped up and finished with 18 points. Matavais Burton and Jordan Walker both finished in double digits as well. Jadarious Crim, Jae’Lin McCurdy and Antavious Woody also got on the board for LaFayette.

Staying humble after the fast start is the key for the Bulldogs moving forward in the season, according to Threadgill.

“We have to make sure that it’s family first,” he said. “That it’s ‘we’ before ‘me,’ and continue to get better as a unit.”

For Valley, Markavious Atkinson finished with 12 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 block. Jacquez Trammell finished with 10 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists. Kintavious Dozier, KD Hutchinson, Jaden Hamlin, Kalen Sherrell and Davontrez Daniel also got on the board for the Rams.