Published: February 23, 2008 11:23 pm      

It’s not too late to jump on Basketball Bandwagon

Hornets ready to battle salty Yates squad; Lady Hornets cap remarkable run

Maybe the Hornets should be nervous. They’re about to collide with the nation’s fifth-ranked team, a hugely talented Houston Yates squad that has sat atop Texas’ Class 4A poll all season.

Yikes, Yates (26-2) scores more than 90 points on average. The Lions reached triple digits in scoring for the seventh time in their last eight games on Friday. The Lions rolled over Austin McCallum 100-67 in the area round.

Senior E.J. Kirby led the way with 25 points; Anthony Jones, a 6-10 senior who can shoot the 3, tossed in 20 more points for coach Greg Wise’s Yates team.

The Lions’ last loss came on Dec. 22. They followed that with two wins over nationally ranked teams at the Houston vs. The Nation tournament. First, the Lions shot down Oak Hill Academy of Mouth of Wilson, Va., then dropped St. Patrick of Elizabeth, N.J., during the huge Christmastime tournament.

Strangely, the Hornets don’t look worried. Most of them have played in big games before, and Tuesday’s game at the Merrell Center in Katy is just one more.

Can Huntsville keep it close and possibly upset the Lions?

Absolutely, but it will take a total team effort — a dozen guys and their coaches working together for 48 minutes, and maybe more.

What will it take for the Hornets to pull off the improbable?

Defense. The quick kind of defense they played in the first quarter of Friday night’s game against Houston Jones, and the in-your-face kind of defense that has become their trademark.

Guards Drae Murray and Justin Ennis have to hit shots and inside players Kirby Ennis, George Perry and Justin Gilbert must stay out of foul trouble.

On Friday, Murray and Ennis both popped a pair of 3-pointers, but Huntsville will probably need more production from the perimeter against Yates.

Kirby Ennis picked up two quick fouls in the first quarter against Jones, then sat for the rest of the half. The refs hit Huntsville’s strongest inside player with two more fouls early in the third quarter, but fortunately, Perry stepped up and gave the Hornets some terrific minutes guarding the Falcons’ 6-8 junior Ray Turner.

Simply put, Huntsville cannot have any breakdowns or lapses in concentration. Not against Yates.

Hungry and hunting their first state championship since 1949, the Lions have the talent to roll all the way to Austin unbeaten. Before they get there, they’ll have to tangle with a Huntsville bunch that has some talent, too.

• • • •

Talking about a Huntsville team with talent, how about those Lady Hornets, who advanced to the Region III semifinals this season? They lost to a Dickinson bunch that could be on its way to a state title, and there’s no shame in that.

Dickinson (33-4) cruised past the girls from Houston Yates 76-36 in the regional finals Saturday. Like they did against Huntsville, the Lady Gators found a groove in the second quarter and turned a close game into a rout.

Before dropping an 83-49 decision to Dickinson, the Lady Hornets rolled past Austin Crockett and Houston Jones. Huntsville edged Austin LBJ in the Region III quarterfinals.

Great season, girls. Led by seniors Jaleesa Thomas, Nicole White, Shelsea O’Bryant, Scottie Ward, Amanda Spivey and Candice Pace, the Lady Hornets and their new head coach Devin Gabbard improved on the foundation set down a year or two before by former boss Mia Cook.

Those players will be long gone next year, but Huntsville should be all right with Destini Henderson and Ronisha Major returning.

Gabbard, a pleasant guy who became the early frontrunner for the Item’s coach of the year award, has some work to do finding replacements for Thomas, White, Ward and others, but he’s got time on his side now.

Congratulations again Lady Hornets. You all did a super job and made Huntsville proud.

• • • •

If you haven’t gotten on the basketball bandwagon yet, there’s still time and a few teams alive and well. The Huntsville boys, well, you know now they will play Houston Yates on Tuesday night at the Merrell Center in Katy. That game will tip off at either 7:30 or 8 p.m., depending on whether it’s a single game or the second game of a playoff doubleheader.

The New Waverly boys, 59-54 winners over Vanderbilt Industrial on Friday, clash with District 26-2A foe Hempstead for the third time Tuesday. The Bulldogs and Bobcats battle at Navasota High School starting at 7:30 p.m.

And finally, the Sam Houston State Bearkats have four regular-season games remaining, two at home and two on the road. Bob Marlin’s team plays at Texas-Arlington on Wednesday, then comes back to Johnson Coliseum on Saturday for a 7 p.m. game against Texas State.

Even though the Bearkats got bounced by Stephen F. Austin last week in Nacogdoches, they are still sitting pretty for a spot in the Southland tournament, which will be held at the Merrell Center in Katy. Huntsville hoop fans who find their way down there this week can return in March when the college madness begins.

It’s a fun time of year, especially for those who get out of the house and join the crowd.