DUNSMUIR – It looked like the Dunsmuir Tigers might just blow the Butte Valley Bulldogs off the court early in the first quarter. As it turned out, the Dogs had plenty of fight and battled back to take a brief lead at the start of the fourth quarter before the Tigers regained control and went on to win, 67-59.

Dunsmuir opened the contest with a 12-2 run in the first quarter, with a 6-point contribution from Collin Lattanzio. At the end of the opening frame, the Tigers led 20-9.

Dunsmuir went into the locker room at the end of the first half with a 14-point advantage, 42-28.

The third quarter belong to the Butte Valley, as the Bulldogs cut the deficit to a single point, 48-47, going into the closing quarter.

A steal-n-score by Jeremy Lopez 34 seconds into the fourth quarter gave the Bulldogs their only lead of the game, 49-48.

Lattanzio promptly put the Tigers back on top, 50-49, with a hoop. Jake Mekeel followed with a basket for Dunsmuir, 52-49. Two freebies by Bulldog Nan Perez made it a 1-point game again, 52-51, with 5:32 to play.

Dunsmuir then went on a 8-0 run, starting with two from the line by Daniel Ballard and a bucket from Kile Beck, 56-51. A put-back by Lattanzio and a pair from the charity stripe by Christian DeLeon finished the run, putting the Tigers up 60-51, with 2:19 left on the clock.

Nan Perez converted a steal into two points, 60-53. A free throw from Lattanzio made it, 61-53, with 1:36 to go, Artutro Perez dropped a bomb from beyond the arc for the Dogs, 61-56.

Two throws by Mekeel upped the Tiger advantage to seven points, 63-56. Steven Berengue nailed a 3-ball, rekindling hope for the Bulldogs, down 63-59, with a minute to play. That, however, was the Bulldogs last tally. Ballard made three freebies in the last minute, and Mekeel added one, to secure the 67-59 Tiger win.

Daniel Ballard led all scorers with 20 points. Colin Lattanzio put up 16 points. Jake Mekeel had 12, and Kile Beck added 10 points to the Tiger total.

Jeremy Lopez led the Bulldogs with 19 points. Steven Berengue contributed 11, and Tyler Coltrin had 10 points.

With the win, Dunsmuir improved to 5-4 in the Evergreen League and 11-10 overall. The Tigers are in third place and host 0-for-the-season Surprise Valley on Friday to end league play.

The Bulldogs fell to 4-5 in league and 6-15 overall. They finish up their regular season at Happy Camp on Thursday. Happy Camp shares the Evergreen lead with Tulelake at 8-1, after defeating the Honkers on Tuesday night.