By Tom Waddill
NEW WAVERLY — It didn’t take long for the Bulldogs to crack the century mark in scoring. The state’s top-ranked team in Class 2A, New Waverly ran away from Alto 106-65 in the season opener for the Bulldog boys Friday at New Waverly Junior High.
Senior X’Zavious Harrison poured in 31 points for New Waverly and sophomore Isiah Gilliam added 18 points. Senior Tyren Watts tossed in 16 points, while twin brother Kyren Watts contributed 12 points and a team-high seven rebounds.
Kolten Snoe, Jonathan Reece and Wes Wagner scored eight points apiece for the Bulldogs, a talented bunch that is looking to make a third straight trip to the state tournament in Austin at the end of the season.
New Waverly coach Bill Goffney said he was pleased with Friday’s overall effort. In a game that was added to the schedule after the Bulldogs were eliminated from the football playoffs in the first round, Goffney’s squad played well from start to finish.
“There were a lot of bright spots. We’ve still got a lot to work on to get to the level we want to be, but we came out and shot the ball well,” Goffney said. “We are looking for some guys who can come in and help us out. Isiah did a great job shooting the ball and Wesley gave us some big buckets. Our bench is really going to make a difference this season.”
The Dogs went on a 22-6 run in the first period by aggressively slashing to the basket. Goffney’s team also used its quickness to pick the pockets of the Yellowjackets and get a few uncontested scores.
Led by Josh Randolph, who scored 19 points, Alto (0-2) kept the game relatively close for two-plus quarters. After Randolph cut New Waverly’s lead to 12 early in the third period, the Bulldogs started heating up from long range.
Harrison popped a 3-pointer from beyond the top of the key, then Kyren Watts stole the ball and got an easy basket. Snoe scored on a nifty pass from Wagner and New Waverly stretched its lead to 16. Another 3 from Harrison, a slick move from Kyren Watts and two 3-pointers from Gilliam gave the Bulldogs a 24-point lead.
Alto (0-2) could not stop the Bulldogs’ explosive offense. New Waverly took a 29-point lead into the fourth quarter, and kept adding to it. Gilliam, who hit five 3-pointers in the second half, flipped a shot up while he was getting fouled late in the fourth. The shot went and so did Gilliam’s free throw, making it 96-58.
After Jonathan Reece sank a spinner in the lane, sophomore Josh Durriseau nailed a 3-pointer for the Dogs. Reece scored the game’s final basket after hustling on the offensive boards and putting a shot back.
“Our new guys played pretty good for their first varsity game,” said Harrison, who also had five 3’s. “We had a lot of people stepping up, and we’re going to need that since Joe (Carrington) and Slick (Sir. Horace Saulsberry) are gone.”
Goffney was excited to see his varsity newcomers mesh so well with the team’s veterans Friday.
“We knew Isiah could shoot, but I was glad to see him do it on the varsity level,” the coach said. “That’s definitely something we’re going to need. Kyren and Tyren also did well patrolling the boards and getting to the rack.
“I’m really pleased.”
Goffney had only one complaint with the Bulldogs.
“Offensive rebounds — we didn’t do a very good job blocking out,” he said. “We gave up way too many second-chance buckets, but we’ll work on that and get better. It was just good to hit the floor and play.”
