High school confidential

Trinity misses 11 fourth-quarter free throws but makes 14 to beat Cedar Hill in first round

Trinity had four players in double-digits and, despite missing 11 free throws in the fourth quarter, defeated Cedar Hill 65-57 victory Monday in a Region 1 Bi-district round game at Lamar High School on Monday. Trinity will play either Lewisville Hebron or Keller in the area round at Denton Guyer on Friday. Some food for though: Cedar Hill defeated Keller 73-47 on Dec. 27. Trinity was able to make 14 free throws in the fourth to send home the same team that did so to them in the first round last year. Zoe Adom had 19 points to lead the Lady Trojans. Freshman Nikki Moody had 11 points and Randi White chipped in 10 points to pace Trinity, who had trouble rebounding over 6-foot-2 Ebony Jones and 6-foot Tia Briscoe. Cedar Hill, who was lead by 20 points from Skylar Collins, fought from a 35-21 halftime deficit to tie the game with 3:15 left. Trinity was able to have enough success at the foul line to move on.

- William Wilkerson

Plano West downs Wyatt 69-57

By DREW DAVISON
Special to the Star-Telegram

CEDAR HILL – Wyatt basketball coach Rodney MacFadden wasn’t hesitant in describing his feeling toward the 9:30 a.m. tip off time his team drew against Plano West in the first round of the Cedar Hill Lions Club annual basketball tournament.

“I hate morning games,” MacFadden said following his team’s 69-57 loss to the Wolves at Cedar Hill High School. “I thought we looked real sluggish at the start of the game.”

Outside of the early wakeup call, Wyatt struggled to contain the Plano West post players. The Chaparrals tallest player is 6-foot-3, whereas the Wolves have six players that are 6’3 or taller.

In fact, three of the Wolves big men, Mike Groselle (6’7), Jackson Jeffcoat (6’4) and Ross Self (6’5) all finished with double-digit points.

Wyatt (3-5), though, built a five-point lead, 24-19, with less than five minutes remaining in the first half. Plano West (8-2), however, went on an 11-0 run, highlighted with a Jeffcoat dunk, to end the second quarter and head into halftime with a 30-24 advantage.

The Wolves started the second half applying full court pressure, propelling the team to a 16-4 run, including a string of 10 unanswered points. That run led to a 46-28 advantage for Plano West, which proved to be an insurmountable lead for Wyatt to overcome.

“I went to the bench early because my starters played extended minutes,” MacFadden said. “Part of it was my fault and part of it was our starters not sucking it up and playing.

“I wanted to speed it up, but they [Plano West] controlled the tempo. They’re a lot bigger than us, and I think my guys came in a little intimidated because my big guys are young. So, you could say I’m disappointed in the effort.”

MacFadden knows it’s not going to get any easier in the tournament either, as every team in Wyatt’s bracket have players 6’8 or taller. Wyatt will play the loser of the West Mesquite / El Paso Franklin in another morning showdown tomorrow at 9:30 a.m.

“Man, are we the only team here without big men?” MacFadden asked after seeing the other schools rosters. “This is crazy.”

MacFadden is missing one of his team’s catalysts, junior Marcus Turner. Turner, a standout football player for Wyatt as well, has been battling chest pains lately.

“He was diagnosed with possible heart murmur,” MacFadden said. “We’re hoping it’s nothing serious.”