Perhaps the #15 ranked Wildcats’ basketball team’s upset of the #2 ranked team in Class 6A Rockwall Monday night will send shock waves across the state of Texas. Wildcats Coach Clark Cipoletta said it may be a shock to some but not to him and the Wildcats because they know what they are capable of.
He said the team went into the big game in Wildcats Gym feeling a little underrated. Coach Cipoletta said the team knows they can be special. He said all the players have confidence, play with confidence and play for each other. Coach Cipoletta said when a team plays for each other, good things can happen. The Wildcats 10 point lead at halftime was impressive but then holding onto the lead against such a strong team was perhaps more impressive.
Coach Cipoletta called the second half scary since Rockwall has such well coached amazing players. In player lingo, Coach Cipoletta said the Yellowjackets had some dudes who can get going at any time. He said the Wildcats were very persistent. He said when Rockwall hit big shots the Wildcats kept their cool and when the Yellowjackets forced a turnover the Wildcats stayed calm. Coach Cipoletta said the Wildcats knew they had to stayed focused for 32 minutes.
Keaston Willis outscored all players with 32 points. Coach Cipoletta said Willis played an amazing game. He said the performance would attract a lot of attention for Willis. He said other players on the roster would also be attracting attention as well. Coach Cipoletta said the Wildcats also had some dudes, most who are under appreciated. He said the Wildcats play with a chip on their shoulders. Coach Cipoletta said his team goes into every practice and every game wanting to get better. He said the team motto is to try and prove other people wrong. A couple of the Wildcats are defined by more than just points.
Coach Cipoletta singled out senior guard Jeremiah Roland for his defense. Coach Cipoletta said Roland limited high scorer Alec Grandstaff to just 4 points. He also praised junior forward Sadaidriene Day Day Hall for his rebounding and for requesting the defensive assignment on Rockwall’s Samuell Williamson, a Louisville commit. Coach Cipoletta called Williamson one of the best high school scorers he has ever seen. He said Wildcats senior post Xavier Cork competed well against Rockwall. Cork was limited in the first half by foul trouble but then had a good second half. He ended up with 14 points.
Coach Cipoletta said he did not expect his team to open the season 3-0. He said before their first game his team was not ready. Now he said this team has a chance to make a good run in the playoffs and to challenge for the state championship. One of the spectators at Monday’s game was former Wildcat Victor Iwuakor, an Oklahoma commit. Coach Cipoletta said Iwuakor is a great kid and added it was a joy to coach him. He said Cork and Hall are much better players for having gone against Iwuakor in practices. As big as the Rockwall win is, Coach Cipoletta does not see it as the highlight of this season. He has much bigger moments in mind for his current team.