01/26/2006
By JASON CHLAPEK, Staff writer

PLANO - Life has been good for the Plano boys basketball team lately.

The Wildcats are on a seven-game district win streak and have achieved the feat of beating every team in District 8-5A once. They also have forward Joseph Fulce back from knee surgery.

Plano (17-7, 7-1 in 8-5A) will go for its first season series sweep when it visits Flower Mound Marcus (15-9, 4-4) at 7:30 p.m. today. The Wildcats have a two-game lead over Plano East (16-6, 5-3) and Plano West (16-8, 5-3), who are tied for second place. Marcus is tied for third behind slumping Flower Mound (16-11, 4-4) and resurgent Lewisville (16-9, 4-4). Lewisville has won four of its last five since starting 8-5A play 0-3, while Flower Mound has lost its last four after a 4-0 district start.

In Tuesday's win over Plano West, Fulce scored 14 points in his first game back following knee surgery. He missed more than a month.

While Fulce's return was good for Plano, John Roberson stole the show Tuesday as he hit a go-ahead three-pointer and an insurance lay-up to clinch the victory.

With Fulce back in the lineup, the Wildcats have three of 8-5A's top five scorers. Roberson is No. 2 with 17.4 points per game and Fulce and Eric Zastoupil both average 14.6 per contest.

Fulce is also the district's leader in rebounds with 8.6 per game. Roberson leads 8-5A with seven assists per contest.

Plano will face the district's top scoring defense tonight. Marcus surrenders 44.2 points per game. The Marauders also have 8-5A's No. 2 rebounder in Kevin Moore (8.1). Moore has orally committed to play quarterback for the Tulane football team.

Plano West will return to the Wolves' Den tonight, where it has yet to lose a district contest. The Wolves host The Colony at 7:30 p.m. today.