Subiaco’s Wallace cool under pressure

CLARKSVILLE — Tayshaun Wallace has been the calm amongst the storm this season for Subiaco Academy.

He especially was in the 4A-4 Conference championship game Saturday night when Morrilton came storming back from a 20-point halftime deficit.

“He’s calm,” Subiaco Academy Coach Tim Tencleve said. “I always tell him to quit being too cool, but he’s got cool and it paid off.”

After scoring 16 points in the first half, including off an offensive rebound, a bucket inside and a three-pointer all in the first four minutes, Wallace didn’t play in the third quarter due to foul trouble.

“Tayshaun is definitely our leading scorer on the year, but we’ve got other guys that can score,” Tencleve said. “When he went out for all that time in the second half, it hurt us a bunch. We missed him.”

The Trojans built a 34-14 halftime lead, led 43-28 after three quarters, but only 49-42 before

Wallace hit a running jumper inside with 3:28 left. Morrilton was within 55-51 with 21 seconds left, but Wallace clinched the win with two free throws with 7.6 seconds left.

Morrilton’s comeback was fueled by 10 turnovers by the Trojans in the second half.

“Learning from experience, speeding up doesn’t do any good,” Wallace said. “The turnovers especially in big games don’t do any good. It’s learning from experience how to stay calm in these types of moments.”

Wallace not only plays point guard for the Trojans but is the leading scorer, finishing with 20 points in the 57-51 win over Morrilton.

“I knew I had to lead the team,” Wallace said. “We beat them last time, and we knew they were going to try to beat us.”

In a 67-43 win over Ozark in the semifinals, Wallace scored 17 points in the first half.

Morrilton defeated Subiaco Academy (27-1) in December, 7165, in conference play at the Trojans’ home of Oscar Rust Gymnasium.

The Trojans returned the favor three weeks ago with a 62-49 win at Morrilton.

The Trojans, the No. 1 seed out of the 4A-4, will face No. 4 seed Prairie Grove at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Class 4A North Region Tournament at Pea Ridge.

This is Wallace’s first year to be eligible since moving to Subiaco Academy two years ago from The Bahamas and is joined in the starting lineup by Nik Saunders, Eli Roker and Barrett Newton, who all also moved from The Bahamas.

“Because we already knew each other, we know how some people handle ourselves and carry ourselves in certain situations, especially in these big moments,” Wallace said. “It played a big part in us being able to communicate with each other easier, and we know what to expect from each other.”

While not eligible for varsity last season, Wallace led the junior varsity to an undefeated season.

“He was a heck of a JV player last year,” Tencleve said. “He’s got skill level. We don’t have many and most others don’t have a skill level he has.”

Wallace, one of five seniors on the team, took on an expanded role for the Trojans, who won just 10 games last year.

Choosing Subiaco Academy for his education was a pretty easy option, he said.

“We were looking for schools to come over here,” Wallace said. “We had to choose a boarding school. We came over there and found this school.”

Another bonus for Wallace has been playing for a veteran coach in Tencleve, whose high energy was evident late in the game on Saturday when Morrilton was mounting it’s comeback.

“He’s scary,” Wallace said. “Especially in these type of moments. Even though I wasn’t able to play last year, I learned from experience. He allowed us to mature.”

Wallace will major in electrical engineering in college next year, following in the career path of his father.

“I haven’t decided on a college,” Wallace said, “but hopefully I can play college basketball, too.”