CowTown Tip-Off - Saturday Early Games
The Cowtown Tip-Off in Ft. Worth 2019
North Crowley High School and Crowley High School hosted The Cowtown Tip-Off Friday and Saturday. The state’s top teams in class 4-A, 5-A and 6-A were on hand to open the season. Faith Family of Dallas, Mansfield Timberview and Duncanville put their top billing on the line and only Duncanville came away with an unblemished record. The games were well supported by the locals and the hospitality and facilities were outstanding. College coaches dotted the landscape as the best in Texas basketball were on display. {The state rankings are by Texas Hoops}
Sulphur Springs (#8 5-A) 73 Decatur (#3 4-A) 71 OT
It took overtime to decide the Sulphur Springs-Decatur contest. The Wildcats of Sulphur Springs finally pulled out the win 73-71. Six-foot-1 Boo Wilkerson (2021) got Sulphur started hitting four treys in the first half to give the Wildcats a 29-26 halftime edge. Wilkerson also had to defend Decatur’s sharpshooter Callaway Dkyes. Dkyes got free late and finished just 2 of 5 from behind the arc. Six-foot-6 Sadaidriene Hall (2020) carried the load for Sulphur Springs putting up 31 points, 16 rebounds and 7 blocks.
Decatur began pressing in the second half using a 2-2-1 press, which turned things around for the Eagles. The press enabled Decatur to take a 51-46 lead with under four minutes remaining in regulation. The Wildcats came back with Cameron Kahn (2021) putting Sulphur Springs up in overtime 68-66. Kahn came away with 18 points while Wilkerson added 16 points. Decatur had a balanced offense placing five players in double figures.
Both teams will be attempting to return to state this season. Sulphur Springs in class 5-A and Decatur in 4-A. Sulphur Springs returns four key players off last years 29-9 state semi-finalist team. Decatur has another strong nucleus to build off last year’s 37-4 campaign.
DeSoto 65 Waco Midway 62
DeSoto trailed for most of the game against Waco Midway before finally claiming a 65-62 victory. For Coach Chris Dyer’s crew, it was a tough uphill battle all the way. The turning point for the Eagles came when they began pressing full-court. Midway struggled against the press and began taking quick shots. Momentum quickly turned in the Eagles favor. With 2:47 remaining DeSoto tied things up at 58 apiece. DeSoto’s Dallas Craven (2020) came away with a critical steal late which enabled Jaylon Frazier-Collins (2021) to hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with less than a minute to play.
DeSoto under Coach Dyer has been a traditional power since he arrived in 1999. Last year DeSoto lost by one point to Duncanville in the regional semis in overtime and finished the season at 29-8. Players that will play a prominent role for the Eagles attack this year are 6’7” Duncan Powell (2021) and 6’5” Tavion Carroll (2020). The combo combined for 46 points, 20 rebounds and six blocks vs. Midway.
Waco Midway is in their second season under the leadership of Coach Matt Brown. The young coach finished with a 25-12 record last year and looks to have another talented crew in 2019-20. Godsgift Ezedinma (2020) is a 6’6” post that will prove critical to Midway’s success this year. Ezedinma finished with 16 points while 5’8” Anthony Scott (2020) had a strong game putting up 23 points for Midway.
In talking with Duncan Powell of DeSoto after the game, he explained why he came back to play for Eagles after it was rumored he was heading to Huntington prep school. “This is my home, my mother wanted me to go, I couldn’t do it after I heard Coach Dyer was coming back, he’s like a father to me, it had a great deal to do with me staying at DeSoto.”
Waxahachie (#19 6-A) 94 Justin Northwest (#9 5-A) 52
The Indians of Waxahachie put on a defensive clinic as they completely took Northwest apart winning 94-52. Northwest struggled getting anything going and fell behind 24-12 at the end of the 1st quarter. Waxahachie was in total control at halftime up 48-20. The Indians forced 22 turnovers with their aggressive full-court man pressure and committed only 7 turnovers themselves. Northwest struggled from behind the arch hitting only 1 of 15 while Hatchie stroked it 16 times in 39 attempts. B.J. Francis (2020) led the onslaught going 6 of 9 from the 3-point line and finished the day with 27 points. C.J. Noland (2021) was good for 12 points followed by A.J. Russ (2020) with 11 points. Coach Greg Gober was pleased with his team’s effort against a team that was one game away from state last year.
For Coach Travis Edwards of Northwest replacing a talent like Avery Anderson won’t be easy. Anderson took his skills to Oklahoma State and was the team leader for three straight seasons with the Texans. Northwest has a young squad and very little experience. Look for the Texans to improve every time out. Julien Smith (2020) carried the Texans attack with 21 points.
Denton Guyer (#10 6-A) 76 Mansfield Timberview (#1 5-A) 52
Denton Guyer came out with guns blazing as they took down a solid Mansfield Timberview squad 76-52. Timberview was playing catch-up from the very outset. The Wolves have very little experience returning from last year’s state championship squad. Guyer, on the other hand, returns one of the top big men in the state in 6’9” JaKobe Coles (2020). Coles has signed with Butler and is a load inside with the ability to step out and knockdown the three. Coles finished with day with 16 points, 14 rebounds and 9 assists. That’s almost a triple-double in 24 minutes of action. Tyler McGhie (2020) was steady as usual finishing with 20 points. McGhli is a 6’5” three-year starter who can shoot with range and finish at the basket. Brayden Bradshaw (2021) was good for 19 points in the victory shooting 3 of 5 on treys for Guyer. Coach Grant Long of Guyer has two more key players coming in from football in 6’4” Eli Stowers (2021) and 6’1” K.J. Liggins (2021). The Wildcats of Guyer finished 32-5 a year ago and should make another strong run at state. Guyer completely dominated inside outrebounding Timberview 50 to 27. The Wolves committed only nine turnovers but were no match for Guyer inside.
Coach Duane Gregory of Timberview placed two players in double figures against Guyer. Eyan Gooden (2020) came away with 19 points on 5 of 6 from behind the arc. 6’4” Joey Madimba (2020) added 12 points to the Wolves cause. Timberview trailed 44-23 at halftime.