Basketball Recap: West Laurens Comes Up Short

West Laurens had lost four straight on the road dating back to last season, but on Thursday they dropped down to 2-7 to make it five. They were outmatched by the Harlem Bulldogs and fell 86-34. The Raiders were in a tough position after the first half, with the score already sitting at 39-10.

As for Harlem, the win was the fourth in a row for them, bringing their record up to 6-4. That looming 86-34 mark stands out as the most commanding margin for them yet this season.

Harlem's win was the result of several impressive offensive performances. One of the most notable came from Ty Shine, who went 8-for-12 to rack up 18 points in addition to seven rebounds and three steals. Shine has become a key player for the Bulldogs: the team is 5-1 when he posts at least three steals, but 1-3 otherwise. Another player making a difference was AJ Williams, who shot 78% from the field en route to 15 points and five assists.

West Laurens will have a little extra prep time after the defeat as they won't be playing again for a while. They'll take on Cross Creek at 6:30 p.m. on January 3, 2026. As for Harlem, they won't have much time to rest: their next game is against New Hampstead at 8:30 p.m. on Friday.