mwynn05
03-07-2009, 08:05 PM
Ponder 51 Whitewright 36
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Basketball: Ponders blows past Whitewright for state tourney berth
05:21 PM CST on Saturday, March 7, 2009
By Adam Boedeker / Staff Writer
STEPHENVILLE – If there was any doubt as to the scenario the Ponder Lions faced over the weekend at Tarleton State, all one had to do was read the T-shirts on the backs of many of Ponder’s fans.
“We’re Back,” the shirts read in big, black letters.
In case they still weren’t sure, all they had to do was listen.
Ponder’s fans began chanting “We’re back” at the two-minute mark of Saturday’s 51-36 Class 2A Region II championship win over Whitewright before the chants changed to “state” to signify the Lions’ return to Austin on Thursday for the state tournament, where they will look to repeat as Class 2A state champions.
“I told the kids last year that we wouldn’t be defending anything,” said Ponder head coach Doug Boxell. “We had already won a state championship. That was ours. What we did last year was last year. What we do this year is separate from that. The only thing last year provides is the experience and some of those things.”
The Lions (38-1), the state’s No. 2 team in the final TABC poll, dominated the No. 3 Tigers (33-3) for most of the game behind a big game from senior forward Joel Garza.
Garza finished the day with 16 points and six rebounds, going a perfect 5-for-5 from the foul line, to lead the Lions.
Ponder post Scott Gregg was the only other Lion in double figures with 12 points and nine rebounds. It wasn’t quite as dominant as Friday’s performance when he scored 28 points in a 67-53 win over Edgewood. Turns out it didn’t matter.
“We have good balance and the kids are very unselfish and share the ball,” Boxell said. “We try to exploit what matchups we think we have. We don’t always determine where we’re gonna put the ball at all the times. We had kids make good decisions and use their strengths. That’s what we were able to do.”
Garza’s biggest stretch came in the second quarter when his two free throws a few seconds in pushed Ponder’s lead back to six points after the Lions had jumped out to a 10-0 lead to begin the game.
Then he was fouled on a made layup and hit the free throw. A couple of minutes later he drained a 3-pointer to push Ponder’s lead to 30-14 and complete a 14-4 run.
“I was just taking the ball to the hole as hard as I could trying to get some baskets,” Garza said. “I just wanted to score or draw the foul.”
From that point, Whitewright never got back within single digits, something Tigers head coach Phil Kempson said was not too surprising considering Ponder’s talent.
“They’re a good team,” Kempson said. “There’s a reason they won state last year and they’re probably on their way to winning it this year. When you dribble well and pass well and shoot well, and play defense and block out well, you’re a good basketball team. That’s all there is to it.”
The key for the Lions coming in was to try to contain Whitewright’s 6-7 senior Matthew Smith, who averaged 20.3 points and 10 rebounds per game this season. He has signed with the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.
Smith had just three points at the half and seven entering the fourth quarter before finishing with a team-high 14 points and 11 rebounds.
Boxell credited his players’ execution of the game plan for keeping the explosive big man in check.
“We tried to double him as much as we could,” Boxell said. “We tried to get Scott [Gregg] to face-guard him and deny him the ball as much as we could. We were going to try to put a lot of people in the paint to try to keep him from getting there.”
What resulted was a poor shooting effort from the Tigers, who finished the game with a 30 percent field goal percentage compared to Ponder’s 47.4-percent shooting clip.
“They force you to shoot like that,” Kempson said. “You have to be real patient and take good shots.”
Next up for the Lions is the state tournament at Austin’s Frank Erwin Center, and with all but two players from last year’s championship team back this season, Boxell said his players won’t be intimidated.
“We know just like here at the regional tournament that there will be four really good teams down there, and you can’t live on what you did in the past,” Boxell said. “You have to be able to play for today. Our kids understand that, but the good thing experience does is keep you from being in awe of the situation.”
ADAM BOEDEKER can be reached at 940-566-6872. His e-mail address is aboedeker@dentonrc.com.
Ponder 51, Whitewright 36
Whitewright 10 5 14 7 -- 36
Ponder 14 16 11 10 -- 51
Whitewright (33-2) – Walter Smith 8, Jordan Williams 4, Hunter Hames 4, Antwan Mask 6, Matthew Smith 14.
Ponder (37-1) – Scott Gregg 12, Joel Garza 16, Isaiah Boxell 6, Jorden Young 3, David Robertson 9, Jesus Lujan 3, Dylan Ballard 2.
http://www.dentonrc.com/sharedcontent/dws/drc/sports/highschools/stories/DRC_Ponder_boys_bk_0308.123a9756.html
Comments 0 | Recommend 1
Basketball: Ponders blows past Whitewright for state tourney berth
05:21 PM CST on Saturday, March 7, 2009
By Adam Boedeker / Staff Writer
STEPHENVILLE – If there was any doubt as to the scenario the Ponder Lions faced over the weekend at Tarleton State, all one had to do was read the T-shirts on the backs of many of Ponder’s fans.
“We’re Back,” the shirts read in big, black letters.
In case they still weren’t sure, all they had to do was listen.
Ponder’s fans began chanting “We’re back” at the two-minute mark of Saturday’s 51-36 Class 2A Region II championship win over Whitewright before the chants changed to “state” to signify the Lions’ return to Austin on Thursday for the state tournament, where they will look to repeat as Class 2A state champions.
“I told the kids last year that we wouldn’t be defending anything,” said Ponder head coach Doug Boxell. “We had already won a state championship. That was ours. What we did last year was last year. What we do this year is separate from that. The only thing last year provides is the experience and some of those things.”
The Lions (38-1), the state’s No. 2 team in the final TABC poll, dominated the No. 3 Tigers (33-3) for most of the game behind a big game from senior forward Joel Garza.
Garza finished the day with 16 points and six rebounds, going a perfect 5-for-5 from the foul line, to lead the Lions.
Ponder post Scott Gregg was the only other Lion in double figures with 12 points and nine rebounds. It wasn’t quite as dominant as Friday’s performance when he scored 28 points in a 67-53 win over Edgewood. Turns out it didn’t matter.
“We have good balance and the kids are very unselfish and share the ball,” Boxell said. “We try to exploit what matchups we think we have. We don’t always determine where we’re gonna put the ball at all the times. We had kids make good decisions and use their strengths. That’s what we were able to do.”
Garza’s biggest stretch came in the second quarter when his two free throws a few seconds in pushed Ponder’s lead back to six points after the Lions had jumped out to a 10-0 lead to begin the game.
Then he was fouled on a made layup and hit the free throw. A couple of minutes later he drained a 3-pointer to push Ponder’s lead to 30-14 and complete a 14-4 run.
“I was just taking the ball to the hole as hard as I could trying to get some baskets,” Garza said. “I just wanted to score or draw the foul.”
From that point, Whitewright never got back within single digits, something Tigers head coach Phil Kempson said was not too surprising considering Ponder’s talent.
“They’re a good team,” Kempson said. “There’s a reason they won state last year and they’re probably on their way to winning it this year. When you dribble well and pass well and shoot well, and play defense and block out well, you’re a good basketball team. That’s all there is to it.”
The key for the Lions coming in was to try to contain Whitewright’s 6-7 senior Matthew Smith, who averaged 20.3 points and 10 rebounds per game this season. He has signed with the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.
Smith had just three points at the half and seven entering the fourth quarter before finishing with a team-high 14 points and 11 rebounds.
Boxell credited his players’ execution of the game plan for keeping the explosive big man in check.
“We tried to double him as much as we could,” Boxell said. “We tried to get Scott [Gregg] to face-guard him and deny him the ball as much as we could. We were going to try to put a lot of people in the paint to try to keep him from getting there.”
What resulted was a poor shooting effort from the Tigers, who finished the game with a 30 percent field goal percentage compared to Ponder’s 47.4-percent shooting clip.
“They force you to shoot like that,” Kempson said. “You have to be real patient and take good shots.”
Next up for the Lions is the state tournament at Austin’s Frank Erwin Center, and with all but two players from last year’s championship team back this season, Boxell said his players won’t be intimidated.
“We know just like here at the regional tournament that there will be four really good teams down there, and you can’t live on what you did in the past,” Boxell said. “You have to be able to play for today. Our kids understand that, but the good thing experience does is keep you from being in awe of the situation.”
ADAM BOEDEKER can be reached at 940-566-6872. His e-mail address is aboedeker@dentonrc.com.
Ponder 51, Whitewright 36
Whitewright 10 5 14 7 -- 36
Ponder 14 16 11 10 -- 51
Whitewright (33-2) – Walter Smith 8, Jordan Williams 4, Hunter Hames 4, Antwan Mask 6, Matthew Smith 14.
Ponder (37-1) – Scott Gregg 12, Joel Garza 16, Isaiah Boxell 6, Jorden Young 3, David Robertson 9, Jesus Lujan 3, Dylan Ballard 2.
http://www.dentonrc.com/sharedcontent/dws/drc/sports/highschools/stories/DRC_Ponder_boys_bk_0308.123a9756.html