The Wildcats’ basketball team , ranked #11 in Class 5A, completed play in the tough In-N-Out Burger Allen Holiday Invitational Tournament Saturday morning with an 87-76 loss to Jesuit Dallas, the #16 ranked team in Class 6A.
Jesuit led 26-21 after one quarter and slowly built the lead throughout the contest. The Rangers hit 14 three-point baskets.
Keaston Willis led the Wildcats with 24 points including four three-pointers. Victor Iwuakor had 19 points and 14 rebounds including 7 offensive boards. Godsgift Ezedinma scored 12 points including a three-point basket. Day Day Hall and Michael Jefferson had 8 points each. Jefferson also hit two three-point shots. Bryson Lynn also hit a three and had 3 points. Xavier Cork scored 2 points.
The Wildcats won two and lost two in the Allen tournament. They got wins in their first two tournament games, 68-44 over John Paul II of Plano and 56-51 in overtime over El Paso Burges, the #7 ranked team in Class 5A. Against Burges, the Wildcats got 15 points from Ezedinma, 14 from Willis, 12 from Iwuakor, 8 from Jefferson, 4 from Hall and 3 from Lynn.
The Wildcats losses were both to ranked teams in Class 6A, Cibilo Steele and Jesuit Dallas. Cibolo Steele, ranked #15, topped the Wildcats, 60-47. Wildcats Coach Clark Cipoletta noted that the Wildcats led the game at the half and halfway through the third quarter before Iwuakor got in foul trouble. Coach Cipoletta said the Knights finished plays down the stretch and the Wildcats did not. Ezedinma led the Wildcats with 14, Willis added 13, Jerfferson had 8, Dedric Godbolt and Hall scored 2 points each.
The Wildcats are now 18-3 for the season. They are 1-0 in district play and will resume district action next as they travel to play Marshall Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m.
