Timberwolves defeat Panthers, go to 29-0
Veteran boys basketball coach David Green already has led one team to a UIL state championship.
He’s getting that same feeling from this group.
Beaumont United, which opened both halves on big runs Friday, is heading to the state tournament after defeating Paetow 5947 in the Class 5A, Region III championship game at the Campbell Center.
“They’re younger, but they remind me a lot of my North Shore team because they get after it and they compete every single day,” said Green, who led North Shore to a Class 5A (current 6A) title in 2014. “And with them being young, we’re going to have all of them back next year except one starter (Kendris Henry).”
United, ranked No. 2 in 5A, pushed its perfect record to 29-0.
The Timberwolves will face Glenn, a 57-40 winner over McAllen in Region IV, in the 5A state semifinals.
The 5A championship is March 12 in San Antonio.
No. 20 Paetow, in its third varsity season, ended its deepest playoff run with a 23-2 mark.
United started fast in both halves, opening the game with a 7-0 run, and then opening the third on a 12-0 streak that gave it a 3625 lead – after trailing by one at halftime – and left Paetow playing catchup.
But the Panthers never pulled closer than nine, 54-45, in the fourth.
“We knew we had to come out there and dictate the tempo of the game, and play with confidence,” Green said about the start of the second half. “We felt we were the better team … but they kept fighting, they stayed the course, and we just made more shots than they did in the second half.”
Paetow coach Mike Niemi lamented the slow starts, but said they didn’t cost his players the game, instead pointing to a series of missteps on defense that also left them in foul trouble down the stretch.
Charles Chukwu fouled out with only two points.
“We didn’t do the little things well enough,” Niemi said. “We came out Tuesday against Goose Creek Memorial and really sat down defensively. (Friday), I didn’t feel like we really accomplished that goal. We held them under their normal scoring average, but we let them get by us too easily. They had open lanes to the rim. We moved late into position, which forced us to foul.”
Down 7-0 early, and 17-7 in the second quarter, the Panthers didn’t go away.
Instead, they went on a 10-0 run, with Idy Igbaroola’s 3-pointer tying the game 17-17 with 4:02 left in the half. Trevor Frank hit two of their four 3s in the quarter, helping them to a 25-24 lead into halftime.
Frank, a junior, finished with a team-high 17 points.
“I’m welling up inside with love and pride for those guys,” Niemi said. “They have done something that maybe nobody in Paetow basketball history will do again. I hope that’s not the case, but they put everything they had into this season, from our first loss to Cy Lakes to the last loss against No. 2 Beaumont United, of all people. Nobody would have expected us to be in this position.”
United, which played in 6A last year, did expect it.
Terrance Arceneaux led the way with 19 points, Trealyn Porchia scored 12, and Wesley Yates added 11.
United was 18-of-44 from the floor and 20-of-36 from the free-throw line.
“We expected to be here, and that’s why we’re here,” Green said. “We played as a team, even when we got down, or turned it over, and they made runs. They’re a great team as well. But we showed the heart of a champion by staying the course, playing together as a team, and giving the ball up to the open man.”