02/09/2006
By JASON CHLAPEK, Staff writer

PLANO - The Plano and Plano East boys basketball teams control their own destinies tonight.

The Wildcats need a win at The Colony and the Panthers need a win at home against Flower Mound and either a Flower Mound Marcus win over Lewisville or an Allen win over Plano West to clinch their third straight playoff berth. All District 8-5A games take place at 7:30 p.m. today.

Plano (20-8, 10-2 in 8-5A) has won 10 of its last 11 contests and has improved since the return of forward Joseph Fulce, the district leader in rebounds per game with 8.9. Fulce is also 8-5A's No. 3 scorer with 15.7 points per contest. He missed more than a month because of knee surgery.

Point guard John Roberson is the district leader in assists (7.3) and No. 2 in points (17.1) per game. Center Eric Zastoupil averages 14.6 points and 6.7 rebounds per contest.

Plano East (19-7, 8-4) has improved its inside game since Kevin Smith returned to action after a three-week absence. Smith is the team leader in points (15.1) and rebounds (7.3) per game. He ranks fifth in scoring and third in rebounds in 8-5A.

The Panthers face the district's leading scorer, Shawn Schepel. Schepel averages 18.1 points per contest.

Flower Mound (16-15, 4-8) is on an eight-game losing streak after starting district play 4-0. Plano East hopes to add to the Jaguars' misery tonight.

The Panthers also expect contributions from point guard Kola Alade, who averages 11.7 points and four assists per game, and shooting guard Anthony Hill, who averages 10.6 points per contest.

Plano West (18-10, 7-5) is in a three-way tie for third with Lewisville (19-10, 7-5) and Marcus (18-10, 7-5), but finds itself in a must-win after Tuesday's loss to Lewisville. The Farmers earned a season series sweep of the Wolves with their come from behind victory and Plano West must finish one game better than Lewisville down the stretch to stay alive in playoff contention.

The Wolves need a win over Allen in their home finale and a Marcus win over Lewisville. This scenario will put the third place playoff spot on the line when Plano West and Marcus meet Tuesday in the regular season finale.

The Wolves will rely on Craig Stanley and Sterling Melville, who lead the team with 13.1 and 12.3 points, respectively.