By Gene Schallenberg
Sports
HUNTSVILLE — Here is a closer look at the Class 2A boys semifinalists for the 2010 UIL State Tournament. The semifinal games begin Friday morning at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin.
New Waverly vs. Idalou
8:30 a.m.
New Waverly Bulldogs
Region III champion
District 21-2A champion
Record: 32-3
Winning streak: 23 games
State tournament appearances: 3 (2008, 2009, 2010)
State championships: 0
Distance to Austin: 214 miles
Players to watch: Under the guidance of their three senior captains, X’Zavious Harrison, Tyren Watts and Kyren Watts, the Bulldogs have one of the most athletic teams around. The three seniors provide much of the scoring on fast breaks and in the half-court offense.
The Bulldogs also get contributions from their other starters, Arthur Reece and Dillian Scott, as well as Joshua Durriseau and Isaiah Gilliam, who can provide a spark from the bench in the long-range shooting game.
How they reached the state tournament: Bi-district — Bye
Area round — Defeated Winnie East Chambers 78-36
Regional quarterfinals — Defeated No. 4 Kountze 77-65
Regional semifinals — Defeated Arp 78-65
Regional finals — Defeated Anahuac 70-59
Key wins: Though the top-ranked Bulldogs were relatively untested in district play, they had a few wins that stood out. One of the biggest victories the Dogs had was a 77-65 win over fourth-ranked Kountze in an intense regional quarterfinal playoff matchup.
The Bulldogs also picked up wins against Class 4A Montgomery (62-55) and Class 2A Hearne, ranked 16th in final regular-season poll, (94-60) early in the season. New Waverly dispatched Anahuac 70-59 in the Region III championship game to return to the state tournament for the third straight season.
Key losses: It’s been a while since the Bulldogs walked away from a game hanging their heads as they ride into Austin with one of the longest winning streaks in the state.
The last loss came just before Christmas as the Bulldogs fell to then-ranked No. 2 Cleveland 86-73 at the Toyota Center in Houston.
New Waverly was also defeated by Magnolia 64-47, which lost in the area round of the Class 4A playoffs. Silsbee, which is returning to the state tournament for the second time in the last three years, handed the Bulldogs their first loss 51-44 at the beginning of the season.
Idalou Wildcats
Region I champion
District 3-2A runner-up
Record: 29-6
Winning streak: 5 games
State tournament appearances: 1 (2010)
State championships: 0
Distance to Austin: 394 miles
Players to watch: Sophomore guard Riley Payne and senior forward C.J. Parkhill lead the Wildcats’ attack. In the region I championship game against Tuscola Jim Ned, Payne scored 10 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter, Parkhill was able to stretch the defense, hitting three shots from beyond the arc.
How they reached the state tournament: Bi-district round — Defeated Alpine 68-35
Area round — Defeated Friona 55-43
Regional quarterfinals — Defeated Muleshoe 55-42
Regional semifinals — Defeated No. 12 Eastland 65-42
Regional finals — Defeated No. 5 Tuscola Jim Ned 51-44
Key wins: In the same district as Shallowater, a 2009 state tournament semifinalist, Idalou defeated the Mustangs twice, 44-39 and 61-49. Idalou came into the regional tournament as the only team unranked, but showed that ranking don’t mean much in the playoffs. Idalou beat 12th-ranked Eastland and then fifth-ranked Tuscola Jim Ned to advance to its first state tournament.
Key losses: At the end of the season, the Wildcats went through a tough stretch. Idalou lost three of its last seven regular-season games, losing to Littlefield 62-50, Abernathy 54-49 and Levelland 51-40.
Ponder vs. Hallettsville
10 a.m.
Ponder Lions
Region II champion
District 10-2A champion
Record: 35-4
Winning streak: 21 games
State tournament appearances: 7 (1984, 1999, 2001, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010)
State championships: 3 (2001, 2008, 2009)
Distance to Austin: 221 miles
Players to watch for: Though the Lions lost four starters from their state championship team from a year ago, there wasn’t much drop-off. Senior guard David Robertson led Ponder in the regional championship game against Brock with 26 points. Senior center Scott Gregg, the only returning starter, recorded double-doubles in both the regional semifinal and regional title games.
How they reached the state tournament: Bi-district — Bye
Area round — Defeated Whitewright 68-38
Regional quarterfinals — Defeated Peaster 56-39
Regional semifinals — Defeated No. 14 Edgewood 75-47
Regional finals — Defeated Brock 65-42
Key wins: Throughout the playoffs, Ponder hardly had to break a sweat. The closest any team could come in the postseason was 17 points as Peaster found out in the regional quarterfinals. The Lions rolled in the Region II tournament, winning by more than 20 points in both the semifinal and championship games to return to the state tournament for a third consecutive season.
Key losses: Only a pair of Class 5A schools and a pair of Class 3A powers were able to knock off the two-time defending state champion Lions. Class 5A Richardson Berkner and Lubbock Coronado topped Ponder early in the season 63-51 and 55-50, respectively. Burkburnett and Cleveland, which both finished the season ranked in top 10 in the state knocked off Ponder.
Hallettsville Brahmas
Region IV champion
District 26-2A champion
Record: 36-1
Winning streak: 8 games
State tournament appearances: 1 (2010)
State championships: 0
Distance to Austin: 97 miles
Players to watch: Led by juniors Christian Wood-Dvorak and Dante Haynes, the Brahmas won the most games in a single season in school history. Wood-Dvorak and Haynes are the Brahmas’ primary weapons on offense, each accounting for 23 points in the 62-60 regional championship victory over 17th-ranked San Antonio Cole.
How they reached the state tournament: Bi-district — Bye
Area round — Defeated Karnes City 83-52
Regional quarterfinals — Defeated No. 19 Poth 56-40
Regional semifinals — Defeated No. 10 Santa Rosa 63-55
Regional finals — Defeated No. 17 San Antonio Cole 62-60
Key wins: After advancing to their first regional tournament in school history, the Brahmas didn’t waiver, topping 10th-ranked and defending Region IV champ Santa Rosa 63-55 and then 17th-ranked San Antonio Cole 62-60 in the final seconds.
Key losses: Only once this season has Hallettsville not come away with a win. In the final stretch of the regular season, the Brahmas suffered an 81-71 setback on the road to district rival Hempstead on Feb. 2.
