01/26/2006
By JASON CHLAPEK, Staff writer

PLANO - The Plano boys basketball team leads the District 8-5A race after picking up a crucial win Tuesday.

The Wildcats (17-7, 7-1 in 8-5A) edged Plano West (16-8, 5-3), 53-50, at the Plano Activity Center gymnasium.

The boys district race has Plano ISD teams at the top of the standings. The Plano boys have a two-game lead over Plano East (16-6, 5-3) and Plano West, who are both tied for second in the standings. Flower Mound (16-11, 4-4), Flower Mound Marcus (15-9, 4-4) and Lewisville (16-9, 4-4) are all a game behind Plano East and Plano West for the second and third place playoff spots. The Colony (15-10, 3-5) is two games back of Plano East and Plano West.

Plano visits Marcus, Plano East travels to Lewisville and Plano West hosts The Colony. All games start at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

Plano received a big pregame boost Tuesday when Joseph Fulce returned to the lineup after being out for more than a month because of knee surgery. Fulce did not disappoint his team as he scored 14 points. John Roberson and Eric Zastoupil led Plano with 16 points each.

Sterling Melville led all scorers with 18 points for Plano West. It was Melville's second game since returning from a sprained knee sustained three weeks ago.