DeKaney turn tables on Mustangs in second half (needs photos only)

Undre Smith/ossports
 
An 11-0 third quarter run aids the Wildcats in victory
Aldine – Even after frustrated DeKaney fans watched a subpar first half effort from its team, the Wildcat players saved the best for last.
Fortunate for Dekaney, a regulation game can’t be decided until four quarters of play have been completed. It scored 11 unanswered points to begin the second half and finished off the Kingwood Mustangs, 52-45 in the 6A Region II Bi-District playoffs on Monday night at the Campbell Center.
The Wildcats (28-7) will face the winner of Austin Westlake/Pflugerville in the Area round of the playoffs on Friday at a place and time to be determined.
A few halftime words of encouragement from DeKaney’s Coach David Peavy simply put, “Is this way you guys wanted to end.” The Wildcats responded with 11 consecutive points to begin the second half. Including 6’6” sophomore post Malcolm Epps rebound stick back.  Following, standout senior guard Jailin Allen accounted for the next nine points.
“We didn’t play with the discipline we needed to play with in the first half,” DeKaney head coach David Peavy explained.  “We were making the mistakes we told our guys we couldn’t make.  Over playing them and letting them back cut us.
” If you let Kingwood back cut you, they are going to get open three pointers,” says Peavy.  “Because we have to help out down low.  We can’t give up open layups.  We settled down at halftime and did some things. Once we got the lead, it was going to be hard for them to regain it.”
Allen sliced through Kingwood’s defense with a fast break layup after a steal to pull the Wildcats within three points, 24-21. Then Allen converted a one-handed shot in the lane where he drew a foul as he completed the bonus point.  Two layups later, the damage was done with DeKaney leading 28-24 with 5:19 left in the third quarter while fans who weren’t familiar with Allen quickly learned of his talent.
“They kind of came out and got us a little in that third quarter,” Mustangs’ coach Royce Huseman.  “We coughed it up a few of times uncharacteristically.  We haven’t done that all year long. We just coughed it for layups. That third quarter we coughed it up for about three or four layups and that’s what really turned the game around.”
Meanwhile, the Wildcats never trailed after.
Twice the Mustangs (22-10) battled back within two points when junior guard Brandon Burrell connected on a layup, 28-26.  Matt Charles knocked down a jumper to keep it close at 30-28 and sharp shooting Mitchell Clouse was foul while attempting a three-pointer. He drilled all three free throws to pull the Mustangs within two points, 33-31 with 1:07 left in the third.  But after, it would get no closer until the fourth quarter.
Despite, Clouse, guards Chase Lovins and Cortez Williams draining four fourth-quarter three-pointers, Kingwood could only draw within two points, 39-37 and 42-40.  With the lead in hand, the Wildcats continued countering and taking the wind out of the ball.  Moving to a four corner offensive set while running time off the clock.
“We needed to be solid and play our defense and get out and run look for transition baskets,” DeKaney’s wing Jailin Allen.
The four corner set watched Dekaney’s offense patiently worked the ball around until it found Epps underneath the rim for uncontested baskets. Guards DJ Peavy and Cameron Ivey were instrumental, dishing the ball off to Epps for three game breaking layups in the fourth quarter.
“We used our athletic ability which is our strength,” Peavy said.  “We made some plays.  We penetrated and got Epps open and made some easy buckets.”
Down 46-40 with less than two minutes left, Kingwood began to foul,  But Peavy and Sherman Felder drained six free throws down the stretch for the Wildcats, which ultimately capped the game,
Early on as the game unfolded, Kingwood took advantage of DeKaney’s man-to-man defense as it quietly worked the ball around the court for open shots.  It eventually paid off with a three first quarter treys from Clouse, Lovins and Williams to build an 11-5 lead after the first quarter.
Kingwood led by as many as nine points, 18-9 before the Wildcats tighten the score.  Epps came up with a steal which resulted in a highlight dunk while absorbing a foul.  Then Aaron Cephus followed with an Alley Hoop fed from Ivey.  That cut the lead to 18-13.
With 1:16 left before halftime, Epps, and Allen scored a basket each to cut the lead, 22-17.  However, the Mustangs led 24-17 at intermission after guard Matt Charles got off a one-handed shot at the buzzer.