On the Road with Texas Hoops: Cedar Hill wins title

Cedar Hill - The Cedar Hill Longhorns looked in midseason form as they defeated the Denton Guyer Wildcats 60-48, behind UNT-signee Zach Simmons’ double-double to keep the Cedar Hill tournament trophy at home.

The game plan of inside-out worked perfectly for the Longhorns as they pounded the ball inside to Simmons who scored 17 to go along with his 15 rebounds. Simmons had help from senior guard BJ Simmons (no relation) and his game-high 18 points. BJ Simmons dialed up most of his scoring from behind the arc hitting four three-pointers.

Early in the first quarter, Denton Guyer lost their 6-foot-9 big man Grayson Carter to a busted lip which he left the game to get stitches, and never returned. Carter was replaced by freshman JaKobe Coles who did a great job throughout the game, but couldn't hold off the experience and length of 6-foot-9 Zach Simmons.

Guyer started the game with a De'Vion Harmon three-pointer and added two more points to take a 5-0 lead. However, it was short-lived as Cedar Hill went on a 15-0 run capped off by a BJ Simmons three with 1:42 left in the first. The Longhorns went on to finish the first leading 17-10, and up 29-20 at half-time.

In the third, the Longhorns came out running and went on a 10-5 run to increase their lead to 39-25, and once again it was BJ Simmons who drilled another three-pointer to cause the Wildcats to call a much-needed timeout.

Guyer went on a small 7-4 run in the 4th to get within nine, 49-40, but Cedar Hill regrouped and held off any chance of a comeback.

"This is how we want to be playing during this time of the year," said coach Brandon Thomas of Cedar Hill. "Everything on our offense starts with going inside whether it's a pass or penetration, we want to get inside the paint first and then make decisions."

Zach Simmons finished the game with four block shots, and Thomas says that Zach gives the Longhorns defense a chance to be more aggressive on defense. Cedar Hill proves this by only allowing 20 first half point and 48 for the game.

"We have emphasized playing hard on defense. With a player like Zach protecting the paint, it allows for the guards to play up and pressure the ball full length. Our guards can cheat and go for a steal knowing that they have Zach who can get you four or five blocks a game."

The "Simmons Brothers" as Zach and BJ are known as combined for 35 points in the championship game.

"They are playing well,"said Thomas. "BJ has been knocking down shots and Zach has been scoring and rebounding at a high clip. We are proud of where [Zach] is as a player right now."

"I felt great during warmups and I took my confidence to the court once the game started,"said senior guard BJ Simmons. "Our defense deserves a lot of credit and Zach gave us open looks from the perimeter because he was so good in the paint."

Cedar Hill’s junior forward Jordan Phillips added 14 points on 6-for-12 shooting (0-for-3 from threes).

Sophomore point guard, Harmon led Guyer with 18 points on 6-for-14 from the field, 1-for-4 from threes. Senior Jake Roberts totaled 12 and Coles chipped in with 10.

Taking home the MVP honors was a nice way for 6-foot-9 Zach Simmons to end his weekend. This game will hopefully define Zach and what he will bring to the floor as a future North Texas Mean Green basketball player.

Simmons was fluid on both sides of the ball and used his long arms and frame to score inside the paint. He used soft hooks, and a few power moves that he finished over the rim. Without a doubt the best game that any TexasHoops.com staffer has seen. On the season, coach Thomas says that Simmons is averaging a double-double, and he should. The way he controlled the glass and grabbed the ball out of the air was dominating against Guyer. Simmons made a couple of "big boy" post moves that lifted his ceiling at the next level. Currently, Simmons sits at the No.91 spot in the TexasHoops.com 2016 rankings, but that will change once the new rankings are released before Christmas. What we all saw wasn't a fluke or Simmons just having the game of his life. When watching, you could sense that this was only the beginning.

Simmons did have this to say about his MVP performance.

"I feel comfortable and better and it's been a long time since I've had that feeling," Simmons said about recovering from injuries. "I am in a rhythm and making plays with my back to the basket, and it's helping us win games.

"Doing the little things like boxing out and knowing where my man is while I'm on defense has helped with rebounding and blocking shots."