Waelder tames the Cubs, wins 60-21

WAELDER — The Wildcats (5-1) kept pace with District 30-1A leaders Dime Box (6-0) as Waelder took down Round Top-Carmine at home, beating the Cubs 60-21.

The game’s first points came on an assist from Justin Schilhab to Steven Ewing with 6:18 left in the first. Waelder would go on an 8-0 run to start the game and finish the quarter 17-5, never to relinquish the lead for the remainder of the night.

“We played a good game,” Waelder’s head coach Brandon Howard said. “We haven’t really played a complete game this season, so it was good to see the guys go after it today and finish a game.”

With the big lead, Howard was able to rotate his players more, resulting in nine athletes coming away with points. The Wildcats added to their lead in the second frame even with their second unit in for half the time. Getting playing time for the bench was key for the Wildcats, Howard explained, especially with a squad with nine freshmen and two sophomores.

“That’s real big because we have 14 players,” he said, “and if we can get all of them to play, get them significant playing time, it’ll help us in the long run, [making us] a deeper team.”

After ending the half up 33-9, the Wildcats who usually play a full-court, man-on-man defense decided to go back and sit in a 2-3 zone for the most part. But even then they were able to create turnovers and extend their lead, including a huge 21-4 third quarter.

Ewing led the team in points with 19, scoring seven of those in the third. Meanwhile Tracy Moore, last year’s District 30-1A co-defensive player of the year, wrecked havoc on both ends, adding four points to his scoring total of 14. As the Wildcats continued to score, the Wildcats starters who sat on the bench cheered on the younger athletes, with baskets coming in from Abijah Alexander, Rogelio Rodriguez and Alex Ontiveros.

Round Top-Carmine outscored Waelder’s third unit in the fourth quarter 8-6, with Rodriguez getting four points and Juan Martinez getting two to end the game 60-21.

The biggest key in the win for the Wildcats was the fact that they were able to play all four quarters and come away with a clean district win.

“[We] just stayed focus and got out with no major injuries,” Howard noted.

With one game away from midway through the district, the young Wildcats are currently second in district with their lone loss to Dime Box. In order to get back and take the district title, Howard believes his team just needs to play complete games, or just “finish all four quarters.”

“Team chemistry has got a lot better,” he said of his team. “If we can finish games we’ll be pretty good.”

The Wildcats will take on their rivals tonight at Moulton (3-3). For those watching scores, unbeaten Dime Box will take on the unsuccessful Prairie Lea (0-6) team. Tipoff for Waelder is scheduled at 7:15 p.m.