Bounced by Irving in the playoffs, Wildcats looking forward

01:18 AM CST on Tuesday, March 1, 2005
By C. ANTHONY MOSSER / Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning News

PLANO – A fourth straight playoff berth and Plano Wildcats Holiday Classic title were among the highlights of Plano's boys basketball season. But Plano coach Tom Inman was most pleased by how well his team responded to adversity and how hard it played when the season was on the line.

Plano is losing six seniors, including Mark Foster, to graduation, but has a bright future with Joseph Fulce. Plano's season ended with a 59-56 playoff loss to Irving in the Class 5A area round Friday. The Wildcats finished 23-9.

"I look at it as a very successful season," Inman said. "We had some bumps in the road, but it taught us how to fight."

Plano, at one time 19-4 and No. 3 in SportsDay's Class 5A area rankings, struggled in the second half of district play, losing four of its last seven games to finish third in District 8-5A.

But the Wildcats made a strong playoff run, defeating Arlington Bowie, 52-44, and battling Irving to the wire.

"To beat Arlington Bowie in the playoffs, which was as good a team as we played all year, and to be right there with Irving, which was also as good as anybody we played, has to make you feel good about your team," Inman said.

Plano loses starting guard Mark Foster and starting forward Travis Vance to graduation. Ryan Manack and Greg Boyer, who played important roles off the bench are also seniors, but a solid nucleus returns with the potential to make Plano one of the best teams in the area next season.

That group is led by 6-6 Joseph Fulce, who led Plano in scoring (16.8), rebounding (7.7) and blocked shots. Fulce has already orally committed to Texas A&M. Starters Brandon Ware (point guard) and 6-8 center Eric Zastoupil also return.

"I was amazed by the improvement that all of those guys made this year," Inman said. "Another year, they should all just get better."

Sophomore Landon Skinner and freshman Nathan Christian had limited playing time this season, but both figure to play more important roles next season.

The Wildcats saw plenty of zone defenses this season because of their strong inside presence. Inman doesn't expect that to change, but he thinks Plano will be better equipped to play up-tempo next season.

"I think we'll have the type of team that will be strong defensively and be able to get out and run more," Inman said.

While it's easy to think what might have been had Plano been able to get by Irving, Inman believes his team played as hard as it could.

"I really believe we were one of the top 15 teams in the state," Inman said. "We could have just faded away, but we didn't, and I'm proud of our kids for that."