February 28, 2007
By Kevin Hageland, Staff Writer / Plano Star

ALLEN - With 4:22 left in Plano’s Region II Quarterfinal matchup against Berkner Tuesday night, the Wildcats’ reign as state champions was over.

Or at least that’s how it appeared.

Senior Greg Harrell had just fouled out and Berkner was ahead 50-38. But no one bothered to tell the Wildcats that they were finished. And even though Plano would eventually lose, 65-60, the state champs stayed in the game until the end.

The turning point came right after Harrell fouled out. Berkner’s Adrian Campbell drew his third foul on the next possession and then his fourth, with 4:11 left in the game, on a rebound. After complaining fervently to the referees, Campbell was then given a technical, which was his fifth foul of the game.

Plano junior Reggie Britton missed both of the technical foul shots, but Roberson made his personal foul free throws to make the score 50-41. After the Wildcats inbounded the ball, Roberson drained a three-pointer with 4:01 to go; making the score, 50-44.

“I really did think we were going to win this game,” said Tom Inman, Plano head coach. “Berkner shot free throws better than we did and that had a lot to do with the outcome of the game.”

Plano began to press, which flustered Berkner and caused two consecutive turnovers. After one Plano bucket, Roberson hit another three with 3:22 left to bring the Wildcats within 51-49. In a one-minute span, Plano had gone on an 11-1 run, turning a 12-point deficit into a two-point game.

Roberson had scored just nine points in the first three quarters, but erupted for 17 points in his final quarter of play with the Wildcats.

But Berkner stormed right back, thanks in part to four consecutive free throws, scoring the next six points and reestablishing an eight-point cushion. That deficit was cut to 59-54 before Plano senior Landon Skinner, who had 10 points and five rebounds, got a hoop and foul with 1:11 remaining. The ensuing free throw made the score 59-57.

Another basket by Skinner would later get Plano within 60-59, but that would be as close as the Wildcats got. Strong rebounding allowed Berkner to finish the game on a 5-1 run; ending Plano’s championship run, 65-60.

The fact that Plano had won the title only a year earlier didn’t seem like a consolation to the tear-filled eyes of the Wildcat players after the game.

“No matter what happened last year, the way we all feel right now still sucks,” Roberson said. “After the technical, I thought they had really messed up and given us the momentum back. But I guess tonight was just not our night.”

And although Plano made the game close at the end, the Wildcats were attempting to chase down the Rams all night long.

Berkner started the game quickly, as the Rams’ press defense allowed the team to go up, 11-4. Plano, which tied the game three times, but never led, trailed at the end of the first quarter, 14-9.

The Wildcats scored the first five points of the second quarter as a rebound and hoop by Plano sophomore Rex Burkhead with 6:22 left in the first half tied the game at 14-14.

Berkner appeared on the verge of rebuilding a large lead, but Plano senior Anton Korolev scored six straight points for the Wildcats as the game remained tied 20-20.

However, the Rams closed out the half on a 9-4 run, taking a five-point advantage into the locker room.

“I thought Berkner made the extra effort in the first half and managed to outhustle us,” Inman said. “They are a tough-defensive minded team that always relies on that hustle to win them games.”

Berkner continued to frustrate Plano with pressure in the second half, as the Wildcats had to call a timeout before even getting the ball inbounds to start the third quarter. The Rams’ Maxx Nakwaasah, who had 12 points, hit a three to get things going in the third quarter as Berkner scored the first five points to take a 10-point lead.

During this time, Roberson drew two fouls, his third and fourth, in 82 seconds and was forced to sit on the bench for the remainder of the quarter.

“Getting those fouls and having to sit on the bench was frustrating,” Roberson said. “But the rest of the team really kept us in it.”

The Rams would score five of the next seven points; capped off by a basket from Xavier Perkins, who had nine points, with 3:34 to go in the third quarter. That bucket gave the Rams a 39-26 lead, their largest of the game, and forced Plano to call a timeout.

Plano would close out the third by outscoring Berkner, 5-3, thanks in part to a pair of baskets by junior Reggie Britton, who had nine points and six rebounds against the Rams. That made the score 42-31 heading into the final quarter.

Plano was able to get within nine points early in the fourth quarter and appeared primed to get even closer when Burkhead, who had six rebounds, made a basket and appeared to be fouled with 6:28 left in the fourth quarter. However, Burkhead was called for a charge and Berkner took advantage with a basket at the other end. Instead of potentially being down by just six points, the Wildcats now trailed by 11.

However, that would set the stage for Plano’s fourth quarter comeback attempt. The Wildcats scored 31 points in the first three quarters combined before erupting for 29 in the fourth quarter of the 65-60 defeat.

Berkner’s Justin Johnson and Ben Brown played big parts in the Rams’ win as they went for 16 and 12 points, respectively.

“I told our team that only one group gets to walk away at the end of the season like we did last year,” Inman said. “Only one team gets to be the rock stars and this year, it wasn’t us. But I am still extremely proud of this group of guys.”