Athens High’s Trey Brooks could only smile when talking about the Golden Eagles’ big fourth quarter that sunk Decatur 59-47 on Friday.

Athens led 42-40 before an 11-0 run from 7:35 until 3:45 to play in the fourth period gave the Golden Eagles a comfortable lead.

“We just started moving the ball around,” Brooks said with a wide grin. “We had some intense practices, and we were running those kinds of plays a lot.”

The loss left Decatur coach Jamie Lee shaking his head, looking for answers in a season that now has his team at 2-9 overall and 0-2 in Class 5A, Area 16.

“They made a little run and our guys didn’t have enough confidence to respond,” Lee said. “It’s tough to lose at home and in an area game as well. Now we are behind the eight-ball and we have to get it turned around quick.”

Athens improved to 5-10 with the win.

“It’s a big win for the Athens program,” Athens coach Venard Hendrix said.

Before the Golden Eagles’ big run in the fourth quarter, neither team could stretch out a lead against the other. Decatur grabbed a 15-12 first-quarter lead, which then became a 28-26 Athens advantage at halftime.

Then with 7:35 remaining in the fourth quarter, Decatur’s William Johnson hit a 3-pointer to cut Athens’ lead to 42-40.

After the Golden Eagles’ run put them ahead 53-40, the Red Raiders never got closer than 55-47, which came with 1:01 remaining.

Overall, Decatur shot 35 percent on 19-of-54 shooting.

Meanwhile, Athens took 14 fewer shots, but hit them at a better clip, making 22 of 40 for 55 percent.

Brooks finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds, and Malone scored 18 points. Ric’hard Nasseri had 10 points.

“We came out in the second half and had some momentum from the first half,” Hendrix said. “Trey and Neil did a good job. I think we were just moving the ball around better.”

William Johnson scored 13 points for Decatur, and Mitch Fawcett had 12.

“We just have to keep working and getting to where we can execute,” Lee said, before pausing for a moment. “And somewhere along the way, we need a victory.”

Athens girls 57, Decatur 56: Athens High coach Eddie Murphree had a moment of reckoning during the Lady Golden Eagles’ win over Decatur on Friday.

As Decatur’s Whitney Fletcher’s 3-point shot flew through the air with no time left in the fourth quarter, Murphree said that his heart stopped. And after the ball hit the front rim he couldn’t find many positives in the Lady Golden Eagles’ victory.

“It was an ugly win,” Murphree said. “Our players know we have a long way to go.”

Athens (12-3) took a 54-46 lead with 2:33 remaining in the fourth quarter, but saw Decatur come back in a hurry. The Lady Red Raiders (2-7) went on a 7-0 run from 2:07 until 1:07 to put the score at 54-53 in favor of Athens.

Then with 27.4 seconds remaining and Athens winning 57-53, Shana Hubbard hit a 3-point basket for Decatur to put the score at 57-56. Athens then missed two free throws with 4.8 seconds left which set up Fletcher’s shot.

“It means a lot to come over here and win,” Murphree said. “Coach (Brad) Boy had them ready. This is a tough place to play, and I would rather come out with an ugly win than a loss.

Amelia Ridgeway led Athens with 18 points, and LeCresha Horton scored 16 points.

Fletcher led all scorers with 19 points, and Britney McCloud chipped in with 16 points for the Lady Red Raiders.