Lancaster, Texas- The day after Christmas gave us plenty of drama in the first year of the In Season Showcase. Class 5A Red Oak controlled the game against 6A Desoto from beginning to finish winning 70-62. Junior point guard Kedric ‘KJ’ Bradford converted back to back acrobatic layups with about four minutes to go that proved to be the final push keeping Red Oak ahead until the final buzzer. Bradfor finished with 16 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists. The most notable stat of the night, Red Oak’s 12 assists to Desoto’s two. “We played hard, that’s a very talented group and we had to follow the game plan to a T and I believe we did that,” said Red Oak Head Coach Chris Davis.
I walked in to the Rowlett vs Arlington Sam Houston with the Eagles from Rowlett down double digits going in to half time. Led by sophomore Cadarian Urune, who finished with 24 points, Rowlett clawed their way back and then took complete control finishing the 4th quarter with back to back to back dunks in route to a 65-52 victory. “It’s always hard playing after the five day break. Guarding and defending was our focus and after that first half I told our group to go out and guard and defend,” said Rowlett’s Head Coach Gerald Booker.
Dallas Kimball dominated Zachary (LA) the entire game until the last two minutes, led by senior point guard Xavier Ferguson and his 30 points. Zachary trailed by 14 points heading in to the 4th but never wavered. The Broncos turned the Knights over eighteen times to their 9, while Ferguson and sophomore Ian Edmond provided the firepower. Edmond scored 21 points and kept attacking Kimball’s pressure defense hitting pull up mid range jumpers and getting to the free throw line. Junior Jaylin Hancock hit back to back three pointers, urging his team to keep the gas on but it was Edmond’s driving floater that sealed it for Zachary. “That win means a lot to us, the vision for the program is to compete against nationally known programs and then become one, that’s a really good Kimball team we just played and means we are headed in the right direction,” said Zachary’s Head Coach John McClinton.
Much of the talk around this year’s state final four has surrounded San Antonio Brennan coming out of Region IV but Round Rock Stony Point is making a strong case as a serious contender. South Dakota commit Uzziah Burtyn finished with 23 points while fellow senior and Pitt State commit Landon Short finished with 24 points and 15 rebounds in a 94-76 route of Putnam City West. The guard duo never let off the gas. Senior Damari Coleman led Putnam City West with 19 points, including several long range lefty bombs.
Midwest City junior DJ Denson led the attack with 25 points while three other Bombers scored in double figures never trailing against Crowley on their way to a 76-68 victory.
Event host Lancaster was never challenged and junior Kollin Douglas hit eight first half three pointers leading the Tigers to an 83-40 victory over Beaumont United in the night cap. 6’8 Freshman Ephraim Moore, playing with a wrapped shooting hand, looks to be the future of United basketball scoring 11 points and grabbing eight boards but the Lancaster perimeter attack was too much. The Tigers were hot shooting 64% (16-25) from behind the three point line.
