Wildcats Basketball
The #8 ranked Wildcats’ basketball team travels to Mount Pleasant Friday evening (January 12) for their big showdown with the Tigers. Both teams are unbeaten in district play. The Wildcats are 3-0 in district play and 20-3 for the season. Max Preps has Mount Pleasant 4-0 in district play and 19-4 for the season. Mount Pleasant won both games against the Wildcats last year by 12 points. Wildcats Coach Clark Cipoletta said the Tigers are a good, well coached team. He said they have the offensive MVP for the district last year returning along with lots of first team all-district selections. Coach Cipoletta said they also have a 6-foot-7 move in that has helped them, especially defensively. He said he has seen the Tigers a lot this season and he added the Wildcats have a good game plan for Friday night. Coach Cipoletta said he feels the Wildcats are a lot more experienced this year than last year. He said he has also prepared this year’s team with a tougher schedule including lots of games against Class 6A teams. Coach Cipoletta said it might depend on who brings their A game Friday night. There will be a freshman game at 5 p.m.Friday followed by a JV contest at 6:15 p.m. with the varsity game scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
Lady Cats Basketball
The #9 ranked Lady Cats’ basketball team completes the first half of district play Friday night (January 12) with a big home game against Mount Pleasant. The Lady Cats are 5-0 in district play and 19-3 overall. The Lady Cats have a one game lead in the loss column over both Mount Pleasant and Texas High after Texas High defeated Mount Pleasant Tuesday night. There are only two games in Wildcats Gym Friday night. There is a Lady Cats JV contest at 5:30 p.m. with the varsity game to follow at around 7 p.m. Lady Cats Basketball Coach Jeff Chapman said he always hears from the community including members of his church when the Lady Cats play Mount Pleasant. They tell him they don’t particularly like the yellow and gold team and they want him to beat them. Coach Chapman said he doesn’t get a lot of that about other teams. He said he hopes fans pack the gym. The game features the return of former Lady Cats Coach Tina Carrillo as the Lady Tigers head coach. Coach Chapman said Mount Pleasant is athletic though perhaps not as athletic as Texas High. He said the key to defeating Mount Pleasant is handling their run and jump press with its relentless trapping. Coach Chapman said the Lady Tigers want you to dribble the ball instead of passing it. He said if the Lady Cats handle the press, they would do a great job but he added if they don’t, they could be in for a long night. We will bring you Lady Cats and Mount Pleasant basketball Friday night at around 7 p.m. on KSST Radio. We will also videotape the game for replay later on Channel 18 on Suddenlink Cable.
