The streak is over for the Griffin Bears basketball team.

The visiting Dutchtown Bulldogs shot and rebounded well, outlasting the shorthanded Bears 53-48 Friday night in Region 4-AAAA crossover action at The House to put an end to Griffin’s season-opening four-game win streak.

With the loss, Division B Griffin falls to 4-1 overall and 2-1 in region play while Dutchtown improves to 2-4, 1-3.

Griffin played without two seniors Friday — shooting guard Tae Mayes (broken finger on shooting hand) and forward Terrell Collier (lacerated foot). The Bears sure could’ve used Collier’s athleticism and Mayes’ shooting touch, especially from long range, but Bears head coach Prelvis Paster told his team there’s no excuses for a game the Bears could’ve won.

“We were right there in the game despite having those guys out. I feel we have a team that can be successful night in and night out so there’s no excuses around here,” Paster said. “The reason we lost tonight is because we didn’t help ourselves. We had too many turnovers and not enough rebounds.”

Griffin did hang with Dutchtown all game long. Unfortunately for the Bears, the Bulldogs hit several big shots — guard Kalvin Hobbs had some huge 3-pointers — and led after every quarter. The Bulldogs led 9-6 after the first quarter, 24-21 at halftime and 38-33 heading into the fourth quarter.

Griffin was in foul trouble early in the second half, which put Dutchtown at the free throw line. The Bulldogs made three of four at the charity stripe in the fourth to take a 41-33 lead. Bears guard Anforne’ Stroud then came off the bench to spark the team. Stroud scored two quick baskets to get the Bears within four at 41-37 and that was followed by a trey from Rayshod Armstrong and a layup by J.R. Ellis (assisted by Stroud) to give Griffin a 42-41 lead with 4:16 remaining, Griffin’s first lead since 5-4 in the first quarter.

After Jaquez Parks’ layup put Griffin ahead 44-41, it seemed like the Bears would close out Dutchtown and extend their streak. But the Bulldogs rallied, rebounding well and hitting big shots to go on a 7-0 run, punctuated by Hobbs’ fourth trey for the 48-44 lead with 1:57 remaining.

Two Griffin turnovers after that led to five more Dutchtown points and Griffin mustered two more baskets by Armstrong for the final 53-48 margin.

Hobbs led Dutchtown with 18 points, followed by teammate Donovahn Jones with 17. Armstrong led Griffin with 9 points, followed by Demaree “Pogo” Walker and Kelvin Waldon with 8 each.

Griffin hosted non-region opponent Henry County late Saturday and hosts Division A foe Locust Grove Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.

GRIFFIN HIGH BOYS

Date| Opponent |Time

11/19 |vs. Lowndes |W 74-58

11/20 |vs. Valdosta |W 71-67

11/27 |WOODLAND* |W 50-22

12/4 |Stockbridge* |W 69-67

12/7 |DUTCHTOWN* |L 53-48

12/8 |HENRY CO. |late

12/11 |L. GROVE* |7:30

12/14 |E. Landing* |7:30

12/15 |LAMAR |6:30

12/18 |Lamar |7:30

12/21 |Lamar Tour. |TBA

12/22 |Lamar Tour. |TBA

1/4 |Jonesboro* |7:30

1/5 |Dutchtown |5:30

1/8 |Upson-Lee* |7:30

1/11 |SPALDING* |8:30

1/15 |Riverdale* |7:30

1/18 |N. Clayton* |7:30

1/19 |NORTHSIDE-WR |6:30

1/22 |JONESBORO* |7:30

1/25 |UPSON-LEE* |7:30

1/26 |Spalding* |7:30

2/1 |RIVERDALE* | 7:30

2/5 |N. CLAYTON* |7:30