Archives > Sports > Schools
Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
RSS
Share
Winning Time: Panthers fend off MacArthur rally for win
BY Matt Welch, mwelch@starlocalnews.com
GARLAND -- Last season, late-game execution plagued the Plano East boys basketball team on more than one occasion.
For the first time during their 2012-13 campaign, the Panthers had a chance to come one step closer to exercising those crunch-time demons. And while it bent, East didn't break Friday afternoon in holding on late to preserve a 45-44 victory over Irving MacArthur in the quarterfinal round of the Curtis Culwell Invitational.
"I'm glad we had a game like this," said Jeff Clarkson, East head coach. "We needed it. That's how you get better and in district, these are the kind of games we'll need to win down the road."
A free throw by senior Sawyer Kipp extended that edge to 45-42 and with 30 seconds left and Kipp then drew a charge on MacArthur's Kevin Booze to surrender control back to the Panthers.
The Cardinals weren't done yet.
Tavarius Shine stole the ball and made a pair of free throws to pull MacArthur within 45-44 with 18 seconds left. Three seconds later, East junior Zach Smith turned the ball over on a traveling call, setting the stage for a chance at a MacArthur game winner. The Panthers stood firm though, forcing an errant fall-away jumper from the top of the key by Shine -- who led MacArthur with 18 points, four steals and three blocks -- that missed the mark to seal the East win.
"Even though you're dying in there when we have a few turnovers late," Clarkson said, "it's what we need to learn and get better."
Although the Panthers committed eight turnovers in the fourth, it was takeaways yielded by MacArthur that allowed East to seize control in the second half. Through the first four minutes of the third, the Panthers forced five turnovers while surrendering zero made baskets.
"We went a little smaller and started a few guards out of position," Clarkson said. "That helped us matchup because [MacArthur] doesn't really play any posts. I think that helped us, but you can't go with that the whole way."
The Panthers limited the Cardinals to six points in the third, although East countered with just eight points of its own. The offensive rhythm picked up in the fourth, thanks in the part to the playmaking of senior Chico Morales, who knocked down a corner 3-pointer and assisted seniors Jarvis Pugh and Xavier Smith on buckets for a 42-33 lead.
That flow was tough to come by early, with East spending much of the first half playing catch-up. The Cardinals built an early 13-6 lead behind the long ball, particularly the corner 3-pointer.
Booze, who contributed 13 points, eight rebounds and four assists, and Michael Fletcher, who scored eight, were particularly problematic from long range.
The Panthers stayed afloat behind the outside shooting of senior Marcus Mathieu, who scored all of his team-high 12 points in the first half on four 3-pointers for a 15-14 deficit after one quarter.
"[Mathieu is] doing a good job," Clarkson said. "A point guard and the coach are always trying to feel each other out and we're still learning from each other. He's doing a good job, is coachable and is doing what I'm asking. He did a much better job in the second half of staying in front of [Booze]."
East seized its first lead with 2:40 left in the first half at 20-19 on a Mathieu 3-ball and got the last laugh before halftime after a drawn-up alley oop from Morales to Pugh caught the Cardinals defense napping with five seconds left for a 24-22 lead.
"With some of the wings we have who can run and jump," Clarkson said, "we know it's hard for other teams to guard that play and our guys executed that one to perfection."
Pugh put up six points and three assists while Kipp added six points off the bench.
The win followed Thursday's first-round victory over Lewisville, 49-34, and set the stage for a semifinal tilt Saturday against Rowlett (results not available at press time). The Panthers continue play Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. when they host Mesquite Horn.
For continued news and coverage on the local sports scene, follow @MWelchSCN on Twitter.
The following are comments from the readers.
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
You must register with a valid email to post comments.
Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Registered users sign in here:
Become a Registered User
- Return to: Plano East «
- Home «
- Top of Page ^
