Cipoletta on Wildcats Win
Wildcats Basketball Coach Clark Cipoletta commented on his team’s 63-51 win at home against Hallsville Friday night on KSST Radio and Channel 18 TV’s Saturday Morning Coaches Show. The Wildcats improved to 5-1 in district play after the first half of play. They also won their 20th win as they are 20-5. The Wildcats build a 20 point lead, 46-26 after three quarters. Hallsville made a run but were never able to get within 10 points of the Wildcats. Coach Cipoletta said the Wildcats did a good job breaking the Hallsville press early. He said they got a little sloppy in the fourth quarter and made some turnovers. Coach Cipoletta said he was proud of the team’s defense against the Bobcats. He said Hallsville had several very good shooters and he added they can get hot in a hurry. Coach Cipoletta was also proud to have four of his scorers in double figures: Keaston Willis had 18, Bryson Lynn 15, Victor Iwuakor with 13 and Michael Jefferson with 10. Coach Cipoletta said the Wildcats are at their best when scoring is spread around and everyone gets involved on offense. He said it makes the team harder to guard. Coach Cipoletta said the team is in the top5% in the nation in assists per game. That fits right in with the team motto of Team Over Everything. The Wildcats open the second half of district play hosting Pine Tree Tuesday. The Wildcats won at Pine by 4 points in December. Coach Cipoletta said Dane Rutherford, who he calls a glue guy for the team, took a charge in the fourth quarter and then made a tip in on a missed shot at the other end to impact the outcome. Coach Cipoletta also praised Dedric Godbolt for his defensive play and his passes that lead to baskets. Coach Cipoletta also said senior Ke’Ontae Dunn was good at doing a lot of the dirty work that not all fans notice.
Chapman on Lady Cats Victory
Lady Cats Basketball Coach Jeff Chapman was comparing notes with Wildcats Basketball Coach Clark Cipoletta on their Hallsville games before KSST Radio and Channel 18 TV’s Saturday Morning’s Coaches Show. They agreed that the games were very similar. The Lady Cats built a lead through three quarters to 21 points (The Wildcats led by 20), before a Hallsville rally in the fourth quarter cut the Lady Cats final margin to 13, 59-46. The Wildcats won by 12, 63-51). The Lady Cats stay unbeaten in district play at 8-0. They are 22-3 for the season including 15 straight wins. Coach Chapman said the Lady Cats had a good start against Hallsville on the road. The Lady Bobcats sprang a new 1-2-1-1 trapping defense that the Lady Cats handled fairly well. Tori Moore hit a pair of three pointers. Post players Kaylee Jefferson and Autumn Tanton had 14 points apiece. Coach Chapman was pleased that his players did not play down to Hallsville’s level. The Lady Bobcats are struggling in district at 2-6. Coach Chapman said after the Lady Cats build their 21 point lead after three quarters, they went through a lull or a slump as Hallsville rallied. The lead never went under 10 points. (Same for the Wildcats). The Lady Cats hit 53% from the field including 3 of 9 from 3 point range. They were just 8 of 20 from the free point line and they had 21 turnovers. The Lady Cats travel to Pine Tree Tuesday night. The Lady Cats won here against Pine Tree in December 52-35. Lady Pirates point guard Marissa Gary scored 23 of Pine Tree’s 35 points.
