Saturday, February 12, 2011

Austin Anderson 56 Austin Westlake 45

Not too often that I make a trip to Austin Anderson.  After all, they've been out of the playoffs for about 8 seasons and have never been to the post season since they've climbed into the 5A ranks.  That could change tonight as they take on Westlake in a Ditrict 26-5A game where the winner of tonight's game, along with Del Valle could be the 4th and final playoff contender in a tough league where Austin High, Bowie & Akins are 1..2...3.

Both teams are young with all offensive damage likely to be done by a roster of sophomores and juniors on both sides.  These two teams could very well vie for the district title 12 months from now. 

Junior Varsity:  Austin Westlake 63   Austin Akins 41
Westlake blasted the home team 29-7 in the first 8 minutes to win going away.  Westlake's future looks bright as their two JV stars are both freshmen.  2014 PG Chase Carlton scored 15 points, including four triples.  2014 F 6'4" Jordan Seivert had 6 points, 12 rebounds & 6 assists.  How long will it be though before Westlake's next great quarterback prospect heads to the gridiron a la Nick Foles.  Foles was the City of Austin's top rebounder two years running after he returned from the football field. (Foles had a great year as the QB of the Arizona Wildcats).
2014 G Chase Carlton ran the show and hit the key shots early for Westlake's JV

Varsity   Austin Anderson 56  Austin Westlake 45
Heading into the 4th quarter, Westlake was clinging to a one point lead in a game that was hotly contested.  Nip and tuck all the way, Westlake was led by 2012 G R.J. Rowan with 13 points, 2012 P Drew Wikelius with 8 points & 12 rebounds & 2013 G Will Morse with 12 points.  Anderson was geting balanced scoring and spirited play from their entire roster, including 2012 W Hayden Graham who had 9 points.  However, it was senior night and fittingly enough it was the smallest guy on the court, a senior who had the final say in the outcome.
It was Sneior G I.J. Poole's night in the big win vs Westlake

With the score knotted at 42-42, Anderson's I.J. Poole had a career in a 2 minute span.  He hit a perimeter, had two steals and subsequent layups, and a couple of free throws for good measure.  When Westlake realized what had hit it, the score was 51-42 and the game was in the bag.  Anderson lives and has a shot at a playoff spot.  Westlake is done.  Young Poole lost his Pops, Ira a year back at an early age.  A nice man who always had a smile, I couldn't help but think that Pops was sitting on the edge of his seat from above smiling down at his son.  It's what makes prep sports so great, it's many times about emotion.  On this evening, with I.J. Poole exalting the student section to get raucous after one of his steals and a time out, it was his night.  Poole finished with 20 points.  Nice job, Anderson.