Old nemesis can’t keep up with the Lions, pressure defense and offensive output, out does the Wildcats
Facing Wheatley for the third time in one season or four if you’re counting the Super 16 Extravaganza, played just before the season opened, was not what Yates had in mind. Playing a good team once is enough for most teams. But trying to avoid its long time cross-town rival wasn’t in the cards.
After winning what the Wildcats thought would be a district title, things took a bizarre turn when news reached H.I.S.D. and the UIL, that six players were in violation of address rules, prompting Wheatley to forfeit five district games, in which three of the six players competed. The losses dropped the Wildcats from the top spot to fourth place. Needless to say, the locals were not happy about the disposition of facing the Lions in the opening round of the playoffs, instead of eying a regional semifinal or final matchup.
Monday night in front of packed house, Yates silenced any talk about victimizing a team more than once in a season, as it ended Wheatley’s season, in a punhishing125-87 thumping, in the Class 4A Region III Bi-District round of the playoffs at Delmar Field House.
The victory sets up an Area Round matchup with the winner of Manvel/Brazosport game.
It was Wheatley who got out in front early, before the Lions roared back to take a 17-15 lead on Clyde Santee’s 3-pointer with 2:55 left in the first quarter. Soon after, the lead increased, as low post Melvin Swift threw down three of six dunks before the quarter ended with Yates up 27-19.
Pressing the Wildcats effectively, the Lions ran off nine straight unanswered points when Santee knocked down a midrange shot, followed that with a layup while being fouled as he converted the bonus. Swift then added a highlight reverse dunk and Dotson’s steal and layup put the Lions up 36-19 with 5:02 left in the second quarter.
Post player’s Tavario Miller and Ruston Hayward who led Wheatley with 27 and 25 points did what they could to keep the Wildcats close. At times, the Wildcats looked to close in on the deficit, but that’s when Yates used another phase of its pressure defense, with back-to-back steals which resulted in layups. All in the same swing of momentum, the Lions began to pour it on, building a 46-25 lead with an array of baskets from nearly every player dressed in red, white and yellow on the floor.
“The last couple of weeks we’ve been through a lot as a team,” Ex-Wheatley Coach Elder said. With them replacing of me, I’ve been trying to encourage the boys to keep their heads up. Seems like the team had their head down and didn’t play together. I think the talent was equal, but the score didn’t show it. I told them we had a great season and that I was glad that we did play the game after so much has happened.
To no one’s surprise, the pace was fast and furious going into halftime with Yates up 60-41.
The third quarter watched Dotson, Martin, Santee and Swift put on a scoring clinic to lead by as 30 points, 84-54, the largest of the game.
For the Wildcats things could be different next season with upcoming talent from its undefeated freshman team and the fact that Yates will move down to Class 3A.