If you haven’t thought much lately about the Duncanville (Texas) Panthers’ boys basketball team, you are forgiven. The Panthers, after all, started out the season in the TABC/Tex Preps Basketball state rankings, but before district even started Duncanville had slid out of the top 25. Heck, even District 7-5A rival Irving had fought its way into the top 25 for a brief period of time. Then, of course, you have Cedar Hill, Duncanville's biggest district rival and a team ranked in the top five all season.
No more.
Duncanville’s proud and tradition-rich program can no longer be called under the radar after last week’s thrilling 61-59 overtime win over Cedar Hill (24-4, 8-1), a game that dropped the Longhorns to No. 6 in the newest rankings and saw Duncanville (20-10, 8-2) re-emerge at No. 18.
The Panthers stormed to a 31-14 halftime lead before Cedar Hill scrambled back to force overtime by outscoring Duncanville 19-6 in the fourth quarter. Still, Duncanville had enough left in the overtime tank to take home a huge win.
Baylor signee Perry Jones paced the winners with 18 points, while Thomas Gipson of Cedar Hill led all scorers with 28 points.
Double The Pleasure
The Duncanville boys weren’t the only ones rejoicing after playing Cedar Hill. The Pantherettes got 15 points from Ashley Roberts and Ryah Lacey to upend Cedar Hill’s girls by a 58-46 score. Cedar Hill entered the contest ranked No. 3 in the state but dropped to 22-5, 10-1, while No. 4 Duncanville improved to 30-3, 8-3.
Duncanville also got off to a fast start in this contest and held an 18-8 lead after one quarter. The lead was six at halftime as Duncanville held on despite 20 points from Kansas signee Diara Moore.
Cayuga Also Brings It In Basketball
Everyone is familiar with the Class A football state champion Cayuga Wildcats, a dynamic outfit out of East Texas that featured Texas-bound record-setting running back Traylon Shead and sensational Texas A&M-bound quarterback Malcome Kennedy.
Well, those two stars traded in their cleats for sneakers after football season ended and now No. 1 Cayuga is blistering basketball foes in Class A Division I play. The team is 11-2, 7-0 after getting a late start following football, but the Wildcats have racked up 100 or more points in seven straight games and won 11 consecutive contests after starting the season 0-2.
The most recent conquest came at the expense of La Rue La Poynor, 101-54. This is the same La Poynor team that is ranked No. 16 in the state with a shining 23-4 record.
Cayuga jumped out to a 21-6 lead and by halftime had doubled up the Flyers, 44-22. Kennedy had a season-high 25 points to lead the scoring, while Shead chipped in 13 points.
Scarborough Drops Girl’s Team
Citing small participation numbers, Houston Scarborough has dropped its girls basketball team. Houston ISD Athletic Director Daryl Wade said that the team has combined all levels and is playing a junior varsity team this season and that the six varsity games that the team played this year will not count towards the District 22-4A standings.
Coaching Milestone
Navasota girl’s coach Tommy Gates recently won his 500th career game with a district win over Rockdale. Gates took over the program after five years as the head coach at the University of Nevada.
Unbeatens Go Down
Last week was a rough one for unbeaten teams. Tuscola Jim Ned and Wall always have spirited battles out of District 7-2A, and the most recent encounter was no different as the Indians handed Wall its first defeat of the season, 58-50. Jim Ned is now 25-4, 5-1 while Wall is 28-1, 5-1. Wall won the first district meeting between the two, 71-55.
Another Class 2A unbeaten, Hallettsville, stumbled against Hempstead, 81-71, in District 26-2A action. The Brahmas are now 29-1, 9-1.
The Austin area produced a couple of exciting games involving state ranked teams as Class 5A No. 19 Austin Bowie held off No. 23 Pflugerville, 70-67, in overtime. Bowie is now 24-4, 9-2 in District 25-5A while the Panthers dropped to 24-7, 7-4.
In Class 4A action, No. 20 Austin Reagan tripped No. 9 Austin LBJ, 80-79. Reagan is now 18-9, 8-1 and tied for first in district with the Jaguars, 19-7, 8-1.
Four ranked teams got it on in Class 3A action with No. 22 Stafford upsetting No. 18 Sweeny, 68-47. From District 19-3A, No. 15 Lorena topped No. 14 Mexia, 63-57, in overtime. The Leopards are now 24-4, 5-1 while Mexia fell to 20-6, 4-2.
Yates Update
It was another week and another pair of 100-point plus games for Houston Yates. The Lions have now won 47 consecutive games and have hit the 100-point mark 15 times this year after beating Houston Sharpstown, 107-66 and Houston Reagan, 121-94. Yates is now 24-0, 11-0 in District 21-4A play.
R.V. Baugus is editor/publisher of Tex Preps Basketball magazine and www.texprepsbasketball.com
