Bulldogs Win a Wild One

By Will Johnson
Messenger Reporter

CROCKETT – It has been said – and rightfully so – good coaching decisions can win a ball game. The reverse of that saying is also true – bad coaching decisions can lose a ball game. In a move he probably now regrets, New Waverly Basketball Coach Melvin Williams picked up a technical foul with 4.7 seconds left in the Crockett / New Waverly game on Tuesday, Jan. 24.

The problem wasn’t the tech – coaches pick those up on a regular basis – the problem lied in the fact the technical foul gave Crockett two free throws and the ball. Crockett Bulldog B.J. Anderson made the second of two attempts to give the Bulldogs a 64-63 lead and after Crockett inbounded the ball, Drew Corry was promptly fouled and drained two shots from the charity stripe.

As a result, New Waverly was forced to inbound the ball from underneath its own goal and when a desperation attempt at the buzzer fell harmlessly to the court, Crockett won the game by a final score of 66-63 and moved into sole possession of second place in District 21-3A.

The two teams were evenly matched throughout the contest and at the end of the first quarter the score was tied at 14.

Crockett was led by Lucky Daniels with six points in the first eight minutes of play. He was joined by four other Dawgs – A.J. Owens, Derrick Sherman, Marcus Smith and Harvey Stewart – with two apiece to account for the Crockett first quarter scoring.

Zeke Nixon led New Waverly with six first quarter points while Caleb Bell netted four. Nick Silvis and Ja’Michael Williams both added two to round out the first period point production.

As the second quarter got underway, the two teams continued to battle and fight for every loose ball before the visiting Bulldogs managed to end the first half with a 31-30 lead.

Crockett was led by A.J. Owens who drained two, 3-pointers in the second period and Derrick Sherman who made a shot from the field to go along with four of four shooting from the charity stripe. Daniels and Allen Horace both added two for Crockett to close out the first half.

The visiting Bulldogs were led by Bell with six second quarter points and Williams with five. Mitese Mayers was four of four from the line and Nixon made a pair of free throws to give New Waverly a one p
oint lead at the break.

When the two teams came back out of the locker rooms after halftime, the action began to heat up. The two teams raced up and down the court, matching each other shot for shot.

It was a freshman from Crockett, however, who appeared to be the game changer. While he only scored two points in the quarter, Allen Horace altered countless New Waverly shots and was a beast on the boards for the Dawgs as they stormed back in the third to take a two point lead with one quarter remaining in the game.

Tyrese Anderson led the Dawgs in scoring with five points while both Daniels and Owens both went for four as Drew Corry nailed a shot from behind the arc for three.

New Waverly was led by Bell with seven points, while Jakeric Surgers had five and Bell netted four.

As the final period of play began, New Waverly quickly evened the score and took the lead. The two teams traded baskets and the score was tied at 52 midway point through the fourth quarter. It was tied up again at 54 at the three minute mark and again at 56 with 2:35 left.

New Waverly surged ahead by a score of 61-58 before Horace scored from inside to cut the lead to one. After New Waverly basket, Crockett got a two from Derrick Sherman. On their next possession, New Waverly turned the ball over and Crockett had a chance to take the lead.

Horace was fouled, however, and made one of two from the line to tie the game at 63 with 22 seconds remaining. New Waverly seemed content to play for the final shot, but when the ball went up with eight seconds remaining, Crockett secured the rebound and started to bring the ball up for a final shot of their own.

That was when the New Waverly coach had his meltdown and cost his team the game. The coach was at least 10 feet inside the court and near the midcourt line when he drew the ire of an official and was hit with a technical foul. Williams tried to say he was attempting to call a time out – which would have been fine – except New Waverly didn’t have the ball.

As mentioned earlier, Anderson made one of two from the line and on the ensuing possession Corry was fouled and converted both free throws to give Crockett the three point win, 66-63.

New Waverly was led in scoring by Caleb Bell with 21 and Zeke Nixon with 17 points. Jakeric Surgers and Ja’Michael Williams both scored eight, Nick Silvis added five and Mitese Mayers rounded out the New Waverly scoring with four.

A.J. Owens led three Bulldogs in double figures with 15 while Lucky Daniels had 12 and Derrick Sherman dropped in 10. Horace just missed his third straight double-double with nine points and 14 boards. Drew Corry knocked down two, 3-pointers to go along with his game-icing free throws. Tyrese Anderson added five, Harvey Stewart had four, Marcus Smith had two and B.J. Anderson scored one to close out the Crockett point production.

Will Johnson may be contacted via e-mail at [email protected].