Timberwolves’ defense done
SAN ANTONIO — In the last minutes of his high school career, Terrance Arceneaux did what he always does for the Beaumont United boys basketball team.
The Timberwolves senior forward came up clutch one last time, taking over the game late as United closed out Mansfield Timberview 62-57 on Saturday to win its second straight 5A championship.
Arceneaux scored 10 of his 14 points total in the fourth quarter, fueling another thrilling win for United to put an exclamation point on a postseason full of drama. He added 10 rebounds and was named the game’s Most Valuable Player for the second year in a row.
“I knew it was my final game, and I needed to pick it up if we wanted to win,” Arceneaux said. “When the time came, I was ready.”
Arceneaux’s late surge would have been meaningless if not for a sudden scoring night from one of his teammates. Sophomore guard Kayde Dotson carried United for most of the game, especially early as Mansfield Timberview built a slim lead.
With United guard Wesley Yates III seeing double teams all game, Dotson got the “green light” from coach David Green. Dotson finished as United’s leading scorer with 17 points on 7of-11 shooting.
When United was handed the championship trophy after the win, it was Dotson who received it first.
“He came up to me before the game and said, ‘Coach, tonight is my night,’ ” Green said. “That’s the mindset from this man, and he’s a sophomore. I told him ‘I believe in you. Show me what you’ve got.’ ”
For the fourth time this postseason, United needed a second-half comeback to seal the deal.
Mansfield Timberview was the aggressor early, forcing United’s usual stars into tough shots that didn’t fall. Dotson was the only United player who found consistent offense, scoring nine points in the first quarter.
Despite United’s early four-point deficit, a steal and a runout dunk by Arceneaux gave the Timberwolves their first lead of the game at 17-16 when the first quarter ended.
However, Mansfield Timberview controlled play in the second quarter thanks to some impressive scoring from guard Donovan O’Day. The senior did well to penetrate United’s defense, putting up 16 points in the first half.
Mansfield Timberview led for most of the second quarter, and Daniel VieiraTuck extended the advantage with a 3-pointer that beat the buzzer.
At halftime, United faced its biggest deficit of the game at 31-27.
That deficit almost immediately was erased as the second half began. Yates quickly snapped off an individual 5-0 run to give United the lead right back.
It was Yates’ best stretch during an otherwise rough offensive night. He scored 12 points on 4-of-16 shooting.
Luckily for United, Yates’ teammates were there to pick up the slack. Dotson continued to attack, and junior forward Trealyn Porchia worked tirelessly in the paint.
Porchia added 14 points and seven rebounds, doing his best work on crucial possessions as the game went back and forth in the second half. Consecutive layups by Porchia to end the third quarter gave United a 44-41 lead heading into the final period.
Arceneaux had just four points entering that last quarter. But after some imploring from his coach, he started finding a rhythm.
Offensive rebounds became putback points for Arceneaux, and United soon put together a 7-0 run. It gave United a 55-49 lead with 1:45 remaining, and
Mansfield Timberview (36-5) never got back within one possession.
“They don’t panic, and they keep it real with me,” Green said of his players’ composure in crunch time. “That’s what I love about them.”
After scoring 16 points in the first half, O’Day was held to just two in the second. Jared Washington was Mansfield Timberview’s leading scorer with 20 points.
Like United, Mansfield Timberview has plenty of state tournament experience. The school won championships in 2017 and 2019 before falling to United on Saturday.
United’s second straight championship caps off a 36-3 overall record. Last year’s state title came during a perfect 36-0 season.
Arceneaux was part of United’s first freshman class when the school formed in 2017. He’ll now graduate as arguably the most accomplished high school player in Beaumont’s storied basketball history.
“We started as a new school,” Arceneaux said. “We came together, and now look at us. We’re twotime state champs.”