The Wildcats’ basketball team, #8 ranked in Class 5A, won two and lost two in the Mansfield ISD Spring Creek Barbeque Classic last Thursday and Friday (November 29-30). So it’s no surprise that Wildcats Basketball Coach Clark Cipoletta found good things the Wildcats did in some areas and also things in some areas that are in need of improvement.
Coach Cipoletta said the Wildcats opened their play in the tournament Thursday with a win over a good team, Mansfield Lake Ridge, on their home court. In the Wildcats’ second game Thursday, Coach Cipoletta said the Wildcats came out a little flat. Still he said the Wildcats led for most of the game but ended up losing missing out on a chance to win. On day two Friday, the Wildcats won an overtime thriller over Killeen Ellison. Coach Cipoletta said the Wildcats gave up a late lead but were able to do what they needed to do to get a 4 point win.
The second game Friday, the Wildcats came out flat again and Coach Cipoletta said they never responded when Mansfield Summit challenged them. He said the Wildcats need to work on being consistent game after game. Coach Cipoletta said he doesn’t mind losing as long as players learn from their defeats.
The Wildcats’ season record is now 7-2. Tuesday the Wildcats host Dallas Woodrow Wilson in Wildcats Gym. Their will be a freshmen game Tuesday at 6 p.m. in the SSHS Auxiliary Gym and a JV contest at 6 p.m. in the main gym. The varsity game will follow the JV game at around 7:15 p.m. Coach Cipoletta said Wilson was a very tall team that can cause match up problems due to their size. 
