February 20, 2007
By Kevin Hageland, Staff Writer / Plano Star

DALLAS - Plano lost three of the four quarters Wednesday night against South Garland. But it was the one quarter the Wildcats did win, in resounding fashion, which has kept the team’s quest to defend its state title alive.

Plano outscored South Garland, 22-6, in the third en route to a 62-57 victory in the Bi-District round of the playoffs.

“I think we were just more aggressive in the second half,” said Rex Burkhead, Plano sophomore. “Everyone went out there and played like there was no way we were going to lose.”

Plano senior John Roberson made a three-pointer to start the game, but that would be his final points of the first half, as the Colonels marched out to a 32-24 lead.

But then came the second half.

After getting the first bucket of the third quarter, Plano scored once more when senior Landon Skinner made a steal and passed the ball to Burkhead for a lay-in. Just 1:08 into the second half, the Wildcats had managed to cut their deficit in half.

After a three-pointer by Burkhead got the team within one point, Plano took its first lead since the first quarter when senior Phillip Bailey, who had nine points, made a basket with 3:35 remaining.

On Plano’s ensuing possession, Roberson got his second basket of the game to put the Wildcats up, 37-34. That score also capped a 13-2 Plano run. After a quick bucket on the other end by South Garland’s Barry Honore, the Wildcats would start up another run by scoring the next seven points.

That put Plano up, 44-36, with less than a minute to go in the quarter. The Colonels appeared to grab the momentum back heading into the final frame when Nick Van Exel hit a shot with seven seconds to go. But Roberson, who had eight points in the final three minutes of the third quarter, came back down the court and made a bank-shot at the buzzer.

“We got pinned down a bit in the first half, but we played with a lot more defensive energy in the second,” said Tom Inman, Plano head coach. “I told our guys that if we could come out strong on the first three or four possessions of the second half, we would be right back in this thing.”

Roberson, who had 15 points on the night, scored quickly to start the fourth quarter, giving the Wildcats a 48-38 advantage. But South Garland wasn’t done yet, as the Colonels used the rebounding advantage they enjoyed most of the evening to go on an 11-3 run and pull within 51-49.

Plano’s lead grew to 56-53 when South Garland’s Keith Huggins threw up a three. Huggins’ shot was off the mark, but the Colonels grabbed the rebound and Huggins second attempt was good to tie the score at 56-56 with 1:42 left in the game.

Skinner would get the next points, as his lay-up put the Wildcats up, 59-57, with 38 seconds left. After a South Garland miss and Burkhead rebound, Plano senior Adam Chisholm, who had 15 points, hit a pair of free throws to put the Wildcats up by four with 20 seconds remaining.

“All I could think was, ‘We need the ball’” Burkhead said. “So, I just went up for the rebound and tried to get it.”

No other Plano player had more than three rebounds with the exception of Burkhead, who had nine to go along with his 13 points. An ensuing steal by Bailey and free throw sealed the 62-57 victory for the Wildcats.

Plano’s next game will be Friday night against Carter.