Tuesday, February 6, 2007
By Kevin Hageland, Staff Writer / Plano Star

PLANO - Plano (8-4) entered Tuesday night’s game against Plano West (5-7) looking to accomplish two things: solidify their own playoff positioning while also essentially eliminating the Wolves from the race.

And the Wildcats did just that, defeating West, 65-59.

“Whenever you are looking at games towards the end of the season, it is always in your best interest to try and eliminate as many teams as possible from the playoff race,” said Tom Inman, Plano head coach. “We looked at this as a separation game.”

However, it was West that did most of the separating early on. After falling behind, 10-8, the Wolves went on a thunderous 14-1 run to take a 22-11 lead. West senior Sterling Melville capped off the spurt with an offensive board and putback, while getting fouled, with 1:07 left in the first quarter. That would not be the last the Wildcats heard from Melville Tuesday night, as he was the dominating offensive force for West.

After leading by as many as 11 points in the first quarter, Plano senior John Roberson hit a three-pointer 48 seconds into the second to begin the Wildcats comeback. After a West bucket put the Wolves up, 26-17, Plano sophomore Rex Burkhead got back-to-back offensive rebounds and putbacks to cut the Wildcats’ deficit to five points. On the night, Burkhead had 12 points and seven rebounds.

Those pair of baskets would also be the start of a 9-2 Plano run, which got the Wildcats bask to within two points.

The West advantage remained at two points, 30-28, when Roberson faked out a defender and spotted up for a wide-open three. The ensuing swish at the buzzer gave Plano its first lead since 10-8 in the first quarter. However, Roberson would not be done with his last second heroics.

The momentum continued to ebb-and-flow in the second half, as there were two ties and seven lead changes in the third quarter alone. As was the case most of the evening, Roberson and Melville led their respective offenses.

Roberson picked West sophomore Tyler Melville’s pocket and drove the length of the court for a hoop and a foul with 4:13 to go in the third. Those points put Plano up 39-35. Not to be outdone, the elder Melville notched his own old-fashioned three-point play with 2:49 left to give the Wolves a 40-39 lead.

The two teams would be tied at 42-42 before Roberson, who led the Wildcats with 26 points, helped Plano regain the game’s momentum. Roberson made a steal, cut through traffic and banked in a shot from 45-feet at the buzzer to give the Wildcats a 45-42 lead.

“That shot had to be demoralizing for West,” Inman said. “John hit two buzzer-beaters for us, which is especially huge when you look at what the final score of the game was.”

After trailing by three points late in the third, Roberson then capped off an 11-0 Plano run by banking in a shot, while falling down and getting fouled. The ensuing free throw gave Plano a 50-42 advantage, their biggest of the game, with 6:15 left in the contest.

However, West, in front of a jam-packed home crowd, wouldn’t go down that easily. Senior Kevin Tietz, who had nine points, knocked in a three with 4:08 remaining to get the Wolves back within two points at 52-50.

That cushion would be three points when Burkhead, who is also quarterback for the Plano football team, showed off his arm by connecting on a home run pass to senior Landon Skinner for an easy lay-in with 32 seconds left. That basket put Plano up, 59-54. Skinner had nine points and four rebounds against West.

The Wolves hung around though and senior Mealad Tarighi drained a three with 14 seconds remaining to make it 61-59. After two Plano free throws, the Wildcats sealed the victory when Skinner rejected West senior John Maxwell on the Wolves next possession. Two more free throws would give Plano the eventual 65-59 victory.

While senior Adam Chisholm chipped in big for the Wildcats with 12 points, it was Melville that led all scorers and rebounders with 29 and seven, respectively.

“Getting this victory makes a huge difference for us,” Inman said. Not only does this separate us more from the bottom of the district; it also gives us a sweep over West and momentum heading into our game against East on Friday.”