01:16 AM CST on Wednesday, March 1, 2006

By TODD WILLS / Staff Writer

COPPELL – Point guard John Roberson has hit big shot after big shot for Plano this season. Even the ones coach Tom Inman tells him to miss.

Roberson delivered for Plano again Tuesday night, making the first free throw – as he was told – to snap a 54-54 tie with two seconds left. He also made the second one, despite orders to the contrary, giving Plano a thrilling 56-54 victory over Duncanville in a Class 5A Region I quarterfinal at Coppell.

Afterward, Roberson joked with Inman about the coach's message.

"After I made the first one, I just couldn't miss the second one," Roberson said.

Roberson, who scored one point in the first half, helped Plano recover after Duncanville seized a 40-36 lead after three quarters. Roberson made the first two shots of the final quarter, both 3-pointers, as Plano got back the lead it held most of the game, 42-40, with 6:30 left in the game. Roberson finished with a team-high 16 points.

His key shots didn't decide anything. The score was tied five more times after that, with Duncanville taking the lead twice at 46-44 and 48-46 on layups by Michael Pouncy and Marcus Brister.

Plano regrouped, hitting crucial free throws and taking a 54-50 lead on Landon Skinner's drive with 55 seconds left. Duncanville closed to two on Brister's layup, and after Skinner missed two free throws, Duncanville missed several attempts before D'Waylon Roberts slammed home Brister's missed shot with eight seconds left to tie the game at 54-54.

Roberts could have been called for offensive interference. But Plano got a close call right back when Roberson drove into the lane in the final seconds and was bumped by two different Duncanville defenders.

Roberson, who had missed two of six free throws, calmly stepped to the line as Inman rubbed a silver cross around his neck with his back turned from the goal. Roberson swished the first one, and instead of missing the second, again didn't touch the rim as he gave Plano a 56-54 lead.

Duncanville's final heave was intercepted by Plano forward Eric Zastoupil, who had 15 points in another clutch performance. Teammate Joseph Fulce, who missed several games with a knee injury, had 10 points and 14 rebounds.

Both deferred to Roberson, a Florida move-in who has been the difference for a Plano team headed to the Region I tournament.