14 Waxahachie Daily Light Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Crowd noise aids Panthers’ cause
Sports
Massive turnout keys bi-district win By ALEX RILEY Daily Light sports writer
DUNCANVILLE – After the players and coaches hoisted the bi-district trophy following Midlothian’s 5249 win over Mesquite Poteet, senior Eddie Johnson figured there was one more set of people who needed a chance to touch the golden basketball. Trouble is, it’s hard to give 1,000-plus people that kind of opportunity. But Johnson tried. Players and the trophy made a victory lap around the Sandra Meadows Arena to honor the multitude of Panther faithful who made the trek for the game. While the athletes played the game, there was no doubt outside elements made an impact on the night’s outcome. “We have the best fans in the area. Our school is a spiritual school and we’re all for one,” Johnson said. “Our crowd is amazing. We have the best crowd in the Metroplex. I’ve never seen a crowd like that in my life.” While there was no official count of how many Midlothian fans were in attendance, the basketball booster club offered up a rough estimate via a promotion. The group made 1,000 blue district championship tshirts thanks to sponsorship from local businesses to hand out before the game. In the end, there were none left as the arena filled with blue that outnumbered the Poteet crowd at least 10-to-1. That cheering presence provided the Panthers with a much needed energy boost throughout the game as the
players fed off the crowds energy. Of course a pair of booming dunks from Derrick Agbaroji and Johnson’s halfcourt prayer gave the group more than enough to build on. “It’s awesome. We had a sendoff today with cheerleaders and the band and the school’s getting behind them. The kids feel it and it’s a lot of momentum. And the kids are riding on it and we’ve just got to carry it with us,” coach Glenn Hartson said. Of course not everyone in the arena was happy to see the crowd. Just like every district home game, the Midlothian student section, known as the Blue Crew, occupied the endzone where the opposing team would be shooting in the second half. While the Pirates made a run at the score during those two periods, the deafening noise and distraction behind the goal came into play when Poteet headed to the free throw line. With the game on the line, the Pirates were only able to Photo by Alex Riley/The Daily Light hit 1-of-7 free throws in the second half as students did Eddie Johnson and his Midlothian teammates celebrate with the bi-district trophy after Tuesday’s 52-49 win their best to disrupt what was over Mesquite Poteet. The Panthers’ victory was the first bi-district championship for the team since the going on. 2006-07 season. The squad will play the winner of Whitehouse and Longview Pinetree on Friday. That made giving the fans a chance to see the trophy all the more important. “That’s our sixth-man if you ask me. That’s our sixthman. They’re at every game, loud,” Agbaroji said. “If I was on the other team I wouldn’t want to play a team that has over 1,000 people in the stands.”
To the next round Johnson’s clutch plays, timely defense help Panthers advance
Contact Alex at alex.riley@wninews.com or at 469517-1456.
Photo by Alex Riley/The Daily Light
Midlothian’s Eddie Johnson shows the bi-district trophy off to fans after Tuesday’s 52-49 victory.
Playoff notes He’s back
After missing a large part of the season, Midlothian forward Derrick Agbaroji made his return to the court during the Ennis game but was admittedly rusty. That problem appears to have been solved as the junior came off the bench to lead the team in scoring with 16 points. Before Johnson’s final free throw sealed the win, Johnson threw home his second dunk of the night for a 50-45 lead with 4:10 left. He also sank a free throw to break a two-minute scoring drought and give the Panthers a 51-49 advantage with 1:43 left that set up the dramatic finish. While he has yet to earn his way back into the lineup, Agbaroji says he is comfortable with his role off the bench and will do what is necessary to help. “It’s good to get back in the groove. I didn’t want to come in and distrupt the flow they were having so I just told my teammates that I would fit in where I would fit in,” Agbaroji said.
streak dates back to the second game of the Fort Worth ISD Coca-Cola Classic just after the holiday break.
This and that
Midlothian is awaiting the winner of Whitehouse and Longview Pinetree for its next opponent on Friday. That game was canceled due to weather and will be made up tonight. ... The Panthers lost to the Pirates in the season opener 56-44 back on Nov. 7. ... The 20-13 record is the first 20-win season for the program since the 2003-04 season and it’s the first bidistrict title since 2006-07. –Alex Riley
Burning it up
The man who replaced Agbaroji in the line-up continues to make his presence known as Blaine Blackburn hit double-figures for the 17th straight game. He finished with 13 to be the second leading scorer. The
Photo by Alex Riley/The Daily Light
Blaine Blackburn has hit double figures in all but one game of the second half of the season.
By ALEX RILEY Daily Light sports writer
DUNCANVILLE – Want proof that anything is possible? See Eddie Johnson. On a night when every shot was contested and every moment intense, the 6-foot-4 Midlothian post player made two of the biggest plays for the season. And they couldn’t have come at better time. Johnson’s half court heave as time expired in the first half gave the Panthers a seven-point lead over Mesquite Poteet in the bi-district playoff game and the shot turned out to be the margin of victory as well. With less than two seconds remaining, the senior sank the first of two free throw attempts to give his squad a three-point edge as the Panthers hung on for a 52-49 win to advance in the playoffs. Both are areas of the game where Johnson struggles. But on this night, the time in the gym was rewarded “It felt real good. I practice (that halfcourt shot) everyday. Even though the results in the game don’t show it I practice on it everyday and like coach says hard work pays off,” Johnson said. Up 31-27 with time winding down, Midlothian (2013) missed on the offensive end to give Poteet (16-15) a chance at cutting the gap with little time remaining. But a slew of defenders swarmed the ball handler to force a loose ball situation. Zach Hofstad came up with the change and from his knees flipped the ball to Johnson who proceeded to nonchalantly toss it from some 35 feet into the net. Normally a short range shooter, Johnson searched his memory bank for the last time he made a 3-pointer in a high school regulation game. The answer – during his freshman season. “He hit that shot tonight from halfcourt right before the half and that was the difference in the game. He practices that shot all the time and he makes it in practice. Not 50 percent or anything,” coach Glenn Hartson said. The positive vibes lasted into the third period as the Panthers raced out to a 43-32 lead on Derrick Agbaroji’s driving lay-up. However it stopped there as the Pirates went on a 9-0 run to close the gap to two entering the fourth period.
Midlothian – 52 Mes. Poteet – 49 Leading scorers Midlothian: Derrick Agbaroji 16, Blaine Blackburn 13, Eddie Johnson 10 Mes. Poteet: Bryton Flint 14, Donovan Bridgeforth 13, Eddie Adesodun 6 Score by period Midlothian: 14 20 9 9 Mes. Poteet: 14 13 14 8
The score would become tied at 43 on a Eddie Adesodun shot at the 6:16 mark of the period. The knotted score last less than 30 seconds as Blaine Blackburn drove the lane for a shot off glass and a foul to give the team a three-point play and the 46-43 lead it would never relinquish. The victory came into jeopardy on free throw shooting as Agbaroji was fouled while shooting but could only make one shot to give Midlothian a 51-47 lead. Poteet cut that gap to two at the 1:43 mark to set up the thrilling finish. After a Poteet turnover the Panthers were sent to the line for a 1-and-1. The front end rimmed out to set up the final 42 seconds of play. Johnson would force a jumpball off a miss but the ball would stay with Poteet. Another miss was rebounded by the big man who was immediately fouled with 1.75 seconds left, sending him to the line for the 1-and-1. For the season, Johnson’s free throw shooting average is just above 50 percent. But the first attempt was nothing but net for the three-point lead that sealed the game. “We work with Eddie on his free throws and his soft touch and the first one was a pretty shot. I didn’t care if he missed the second one,” Hartson said. “Really, I wanted him to miss the second one but I didn’t tell Eddie that, but I figured he was going to miss the second one. I didn’t want them to get the ball out of bounds and throw it in.” That plan played out to a tee as the second attempt clanked off and Poteet’s three-quarter toss was nowhere close sealing the win for the Panthers. On a night when defense forced stops and easy lay-ups went by the wayside, John-
Photo by Alex Riley/The Daily Light
Derrick Agbaroji throws down a dunk during the Mesquite Poteet bi-district game. Agbaroji came off the bench to lead the team with 16 points. son proved that working hard enough will make things happen. And if he has anything to say about it, the hard work and success are far from over. “It’s a big win going in as the No. 1 seed and we’re going down to east Texas. If we would have lost it would
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have been like, I don’t know,” Johnson said. “We worked so hard for this and like coach says hard work pays off and it was just a good team effort.” Contact Alex at alex.riley@wninews.com or at 469517-1456.