08 - 2-25 WDL sports
8
2/28/10
Waxahachie Daily Light
6:42 PM
Page 1
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Sports
Bench comes ready to play By ALEX RILEY Daily Light sports writer
CORSICANA – Red Oak acknowledges its bench is deep. After Wednesday night’s game, Waco recognizes it’s on fire. Five players came off the bench for the Hawks during the 88-69 bi-district win over the Lions and combined for 40 points to help the team get the victory. “That’s been our strength all year is our depth. We’ve got kids that can play, good kids that can play. I’m proud of them,” coach Preston Foster said. The push from the bench started with post player Casey Hawkins who came into the game late in the first period and made an immediate impact. The junior was responsible for three consecPhoto by Alex Riley/The Daily Light utive baskets over the end of Members of the Red Oak boys basketball team hoist the bi-district trophy after Wednesday’s 88-69 win over the first and start of the secWaco at Corsicana High School. The Hawks will face the winner of Jacksonville and Marshall this week. ond period that helped the team reach its first doubledigit lead. He would finish the night tied for the sixth leading scorer with six points. “It really helped out the starters. It helped them get a rest and just coming off the bench and we showed them we’re not going to let up just By ALEX RILEY Red Oak – 88 because it’s the second Daily Light sports writer Waco High – 69 team,” Hawkins said. CORSICANA Over the That upped level of play last few months, boys basketLeading scorers sparked other players around ball coach Preston Foster Red Oak: Gaylon Edwards him as Claude Person and watched teams from Red Oak 20, Earl Graves 19, Domonique Bonner, both go to playoffs and lose. The Domonique Bonner 12 reserves, closed out the first Hawk programs seemed to be half with a combined six Waco High: Reshard destined for one-and-done points for a 47-32 lead. McCants 15, Dave post-season appearances. Simmons 13, Wilson As the Hawks surged back So when the bi-district troBridgewater and Michael up to a near double-figure phy made its way into his Coleman 9 lead in the third period, it was hands, the smile was inevitable. Score by period Keyed by a stellar defenRed Oak: 21 26 16 25 sive effort, the Hawks beat Waco High: 15 17 19 18 Waco High 88-69 at Video highlights of Corsicana High School the game Wednesday to claim the proA few weeks ago, gram’s first bi-district title in available at Jeremiah Gaines was a junmore than five seasons. www.thedailylight.com ior varsity standout. In his “I was telling the kids under the video tab. second game with the varwe’ve had all these teams sity squad, the freshman going to the playoffs at Red Edwards lay-up. Moments was the fourth leading Oak but none of them is win- later, it was Edwards all scorer. Gaines poured in ning except for volleyball. alone on the steal and basket nine points and doled out a We wanted to join in on the to make it 41-28. pair of assists in the win. fun,” Foster said. “I’m very The final basket of the first “I’ve got to thank the proud of the kids. It’s awe- half came off another coaches for allowing me to some.” turnover as Claude Person be in the game and for my Back in the playoffs for the grabbed a ball and raced the Photo by Alex Riley/The Daily Light teammates helping me first time since 2005-06 sea- other way for a lay-up. In all, Gaylon Edwards converts a turnover into a run-out out,” Gaines said. “It’s real son, Red Oak (23-9) relied on the defensive pressure creat- dunk during Red Oak’s win over Waco High. special. I appreciate it.” what made it so successful in ed eight steals in each of the Varsity assistant coach the regular season to key the first two periods. While the run to cut the margin to 49- the final stretch. Bruce Bowen called lopsided win — defense. While the team still has total number took Foster 47. But just like before, it Gaines the X-factor for the Armed with length and back a bit, it was apparent the was the Red Oak defense that more basketball to play out, team because of his ballspeed, the Hawks put pres- team’s plan was working to proved to be the backbreaker. the post-game celebration handling skills, ability to sure on the Lion ballhanders perfection. Though the squad only accu- was one of pure ecstasy as shoot from long range and all night forcing sloppy pass“It was huge because we mulated eight steals in the players passed around the bibang around in the post. es that resulted in easy transi- know how good of a team entire second half, they were district trophy. Turns out he was right as tional buckets. Within the and an uptempo team they timely ones including an “We started out good at first four minutes of the are and they’re the ones Edwards steal that started a first on defense and we did game, Red Oak had already that’s used to forcing all 12-4 run to close out the third good on the offensive end,” forced Waco into five turnovers,” Foster said. “We period resulting in the Hawks Graves said. “It feels good. It turnovers and went on to just played solid, played taking control with a 63-51 feels like we’ve won state force 16 of them in the first smart and we’re just trying to lead. already.” half. Back-to-back 3-pointers take care of the ball.” “We just terrorized the Contact Alex at The Lions adjusted their by Jeremiah Gaines and point guards. We knew that gameplan in the halftime Graves pushed the deficit to alex.riley@wninews.com or since they’re small once we locker room and used an 11-2 19 as the Hawks cruised over at 469-517-1456. terrorized the point guards they didn’t have a big man so they didn’t have anything else to depend on,” senior Gaylon Edwards said. “Once we got them out of their game, we knew we won.” That plan carried the Hawks early on as steals by Edwards and Domonique Harris sparked a 7-2 run to close out the first period with a 21-15 lead. The margin ballooned to double-digits early on in the second period as a transitional bucket off a turnover created a pass from Casey Hawkins to Earl Graves for a cutting lay-up and 10-point lead. After Waco cut it to six, the Hawks responded with more pressure as a Branden Hebert steal resulted in an
Bi-district blowout Defensive pressure leads to easy 88-69 win over Waco as Hawks advance
Photo by Alex Riley/The Daily Light
Casey Hawkins scored six off the bench as the Red Oak reserves poured on 40 points against Waco High. the reserves turn to take control of the game. That started as Bonner grabbed a missed shot for a putback effort and would spark an 8-2 run to close out the third as all six points came from reserves. After a Gaylon Edwards putback, it was all reserves in the scoring column as Brandon Brady scored six straight followed by a pass to Gaines for an assist. Gaines and Person then combined to hit five-of-six free throws to end any hope Waco had of a comeback. Bonner’s 12 led the play off the bench while Gaines (9), Brady (7), Hawkins (6 points and seven rebounds) and Person (6) all played key roles in getting the win. “It’s really good. You’ve got to keep the momentum going. If you let it come down they’re going to come back and just pound you all night so you’ve got to keep it going,” Hawkins said.
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Gaines showed no fear in driving the lane, ran the point at times and hit a 3pointer on the night.
This and that Before play even started the Hawks were ahead. A pregame technical foul on Waco for dunking during warm-ups sent Earl Graves to the line for free throws before play even started. He hit the 1-of-2 giving the squad a 1-0 lead to start. .... The 88 points are the second most scored this season. ... The Hawks will face the Marshall in the area playoffs later this week after it beat Jacksonville 56-54. –Alex Riley