San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
Whittaker, Clark step up for Thunderbirds in 2nd round
Wagner senior Jovanni Whittaker had never advanced beyond the second round of the playoffs entering Friday night’s game against a resurgent Southwest team. And his chances were dimming after he missed two free throws late in the fourth quarter.
But not even for a second did his teammates or coaches let him put his head down.
“I really sat down, and my coaches really came to me,” Whittaker said. “My teammates came to me, and it really boosted my confidence. They really came to me and gave me energy, saying the next one will go in and no matter what, we are still going to have your back. And we are still going to play defense whether you make it or miss it.”
Whittaker made all four of his free throws on Wagner’s next two possessions to help lead the Thunderbirds to a 52-46 victory over the
Dragons in a Class 5A secondround playoff game Friday night at Paul Taylor Field House.
Wagner’s TreVaun Clark clapped and shook Whittaker’s hand after every free throw he made.
“It’s just a thing that brings out the love that everyone has for you,” Whittaker said. “Especially when you went through ups and downs with everyone.”
Whittaker scored 13 points for the Thunderbirds but also was one of the team’s primary defenders on the perimeter.
“We guard no matter what, we sit down, we make them come sideline or baseline and force them to help,” Whittaker said. “We have a mentality of like, ‘They’re not going to go past us.’ ”
Whittaker said that he knew he could play aggressively on the perimeter due to Clark guarding the rim in the Thunderbirds’ 2-3 match zone, which helps centers stay in the paint.
Clark had two blocks as the team’s rim protector and was not scored upon in the first half. He challenged Southwest’s top two scorers, Josiah McDonald (14 points) and Trey Martin (13 points), at the rim and came out as the victor on multiple occasions.
“I’m just competing with everybody and standing in front of them, showing that I can guard anybody,” Clark said.
Clark’s defense and 11 rebounds helped the Thunderbirds gain some confidence after the Dragons went on an 18-4 run in the first quarter. Wagner outscored Southwest in every quarter after the first.
“He came ready to play, and I’m glad he did,” Wagner coach Rodney Clark said. “He’s still growing in basketball. It’s still a lot of stuff you got to learn but it was great that he showed up today in the first half.”
Clark was also the team’s go-to option on offense, scoring 13 points using his 6-foot-8 frame to bully Southwest defenders under the basket.
“I was just scoring and having fun with my teammates competing and beating people,” Clark said.
Wagner’s Marcus Johnson used his 6-foot-2 frame to help stifle the Southwest guards on the perimeter. He said he’s used to taking on tough assignments because his coach expects that from him.
“I guard the best player on every team,” Johnson said. “He got his, here and there, but I just tried my best.”
Johnson scored eight points, while Mason McGowan added 10 points.
Wagner will play district rival Boerne Champion in the regional quarterfinal. The Chargers swept the season series.
“Well, I’m glad we got to play them,” Johnson said. “I was just talking to my teammates about this. I said, ‘We got another team that we got to show that we could (beat).’ ”