Garland Lakeview Centennial has lost only one game this season, the second game of the year to Arlington Grace Prep.
The Patriots finished the season ranked No. 2 the ESPN Dallas Class 5A Boys Basketball Rankings and in the Dallas Morning News Area poll. Just about anywhere else you look, they are right there at the top as well.
Lake Highlands has the fortune of facing one of the best teams in the area in the Bi-District Class 5A Playoffs tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Richardson Pearce High School. Did I say fortune? Sure did.
I always think it is a good thing, when you are a good team hoping to make a run at at a championship, for you to face the best early. If you win early, it’s a huge confidence builder that can make that streak last longer.
So Lakeview Centennial on average scored 23 more points than they allowed during the regular season.
They also had two players who averaged more than 12 points per game. The Wildcats have three who average more than 13 ppg.
The Wildcats will have to own the boards. Just call Taylor Stell Windex tonight with all the glass he needs to clean.
Toddrick Gotcher and Jamralas Demas will get their points, but if you let 6-foot-6 senior Cameron Leonard, Gotcher and point guard Chris Jones control the rim it will cost you.
The Patriots are stacked with seniors, only three juniors are on the roster and no sophomores or freshman made the cut.
Lake Highlands will have a chore before them tonight, but after what I saw last Friday from the Wildcats, there is no reason to believe they can’t do it.
Whoever wins tonight, will move on in the bracket to play the winner of the Bryan vs. Mesquite game, interesting Lake Highlands has already beaten Mesquite this year. Confidence can be an interesting intangible.
