01/25/2006
By BRIAN PORTER, Staff writer

PLANO - John Roberson drilled a three-pointer with 1:10 remaining and got a lay-in with 18 seconds left to push Plano past Plano West, 53-50, Tuesday in front of a capacity crowd at the Plano Activity Center gymnasium.

"We had a set play," Roberson said. "It was just my reflex. I saw my defender stumbling and I let it go." Plano (17-7, 7-1 in District 8-5A) took a two-game lead over Plano East (16-6, 5-3) and Plano West (16-8, 5-3) with the victory.

Craig Stanley nailed a three-pointer to give Plano West its first lead of the second half, 50-48, and Roberson found the immediate answer on a trey to stop an 0-12 shooting stretch and give Plano its second field goal of the fourth period.

"I'm proud we kept battling," Plano west coach David Piehler said. "We didn't quit. This was one of those games where you hate it that somebody had to lose."

Plano led, 29-23, at halftime and maintained the advantage for most of the third period, before Sterling Melville poured in consecutive jumpers to trail by three points entering the fourth period.

Melville came back to create a 6-0 run across less than a minute of the late fourth period. Then Roberson failed on a one-shot foul and Stanley drilled the three-pointer for the 50-48 advantage.

"I missed on that free throw and it hurt us," Roberson said.

His lay-in with 18 second left allowed Plano to play defense to secure the win.

The game was played in front of a cable television audience which added to the intensity of a meeting for first place.

"We found out Joseph was going to play and we were excited," Roberson said. "We saw the crowd and we really got pumped. We didn't want to let our fans down."

Plano took its first lead with 1:23 remaining in the first period as Plano West four times held four-point advantages.

The Wildcats converted 11-of-21 shots from the floor in the first half and led 29-23 at halftime. Plano took over the lead with 6:48 remaining in the second period and Plano West did not lead again until Stanley's trey near the end of the fourth period.

"We haven't played well here in four to five years," Piehler said. "I was impressed with us, but also with their poise there at the end. They had the ball in the hands of the player they wanted it in."