By Thomas Jones, Sports Editor

A couple of minor lapses cost the Chaps a major win as state-ranked Pflugerville solidified its spot atop District 25-5A with a 77-69 win Friday at Westlake High School.

The Panthers (24-3 overall and 7-0 in district play) took advantage of several Westlake errors during a 12-2 run that closed the third period. Although the Chaps (19-5, 5-2) managed to claw within four points in the final minute, the Panthers slipped into the lane to snag several offensive rebounds that proved pivotal to securing the win.

“It was little things like blocking out that really hurt us tonight,” Westlake coach Tres Ellis said. “We would relax for just a moment here and there, but they’re too good of a team to relax on. It’s a good lesson for our guys that they have to stay focused every instant that they’re one the floor.”

It didn’t appear that the final moments of the game would include anything more dramatic than mop-up points after the Panthers blitzed Westlake late in the third period. Pflugerville’s Demetrius Smith and Deon Mitchell, who led all scorers with 22 and 21 points, respectively, each had a pair of baskets in that 12-2 run. Frenzied double-teams on Chap point guard Cody Doolin also gave Westlake plenty of problems. The Panthers forced four turnovers during that spurt while building a 55-44 lead by the end of the third period.

“They have so much speed,” Westlake’s Cliff Houston said. “If you take one possession off, they’ll put the pedal down and make a run.”

Pflugerville stretched its lead to 63-48 with 4:28 left in the game, but “we kept fighting,” Houston said.

As Pflugerville missed seven free throws in the final three minutes, Westlake crept back into the contest. Connor Kemper and Houston nailed back-to-back three-pointers, and a three-point play by Doolin trimmed Westlake’s deficit to 71-65 with 58 seconds left in the game.

The Chaps never could make it a single possession game, however, as Pflugerville held on for the win.

According to Pflugerville coach Mike Murphy, his team’s poise at the beginning of the contest keyed the win. The Chaps held their only lead of the game in the opening stanza but could never stretch that advantage to more than two points.

“When you go on the road, the home team always plays with a lot more energy,” Murphy said. “You have to weather that energy, especially early in the game.”

By weathering 18 first-period points from Westlake and earning the win, the Panthers ended the first round of district play with a one-game lead over Bowie.

“We felt that we played a tough enough nondistrict schedule,” said Murphy, referring to games against state-ranked foes such as Killeen Ellison, San Antonio Madison and Converse Judson. “We felt that it would benefit us come district, and we’re in a good spot right now.”

Although his team suffered its second consecutive district loss, Ellis cited his team’s scrappy attitude as a positive entering the second half of district play.

“We stayed aggressive, and we were a little more patient as far as getting the shots we wanted,” he said. “I honestly thought that we were going to come in here tonight and get a win. We can play with anyone in the state, I’m confident about that.”

Doolin and Houston each had 18 points to pace Westlake. Kemper added 16 points and eight rebounds.

Carl Meyertons, starting at post in place of a sick Gus Leeper, had 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Chaps.

 

 

Pflugerville 77, Westlake 69

 

Pflugerville        19   13  23  22  - 77 

Westlake         18   11  15  25  - 69 

 

Pflugerville (24-3, 7-0) – Ebomwonyi 2-7 0-0 4, Mitchell 7-14 6-6 21, Smith 9-17 3-4 22, Garza 3-5 1-2 7, Todd 4-7 2-4 10, Turner 4-8 0-2 11, Flowers 1-1 0-0 2, Bunton 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 30-59 12-18 77.

Westlake (19-5, 5-2) – Kemper 7-19 0-0 16, Doolin 6-14 5-6 18, King 0-4 2-2 2, Houston 7-10 2-2 18, Meyertons 3-9 4-4 10, Lancashire 0-2 2-2 2, Breedlove 1-4 1-2 3, Cox 0-0 0-0 0, Fell 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 24-63 16-18 69.

 

3-Point goals: Pflugerville 5-16 (Turner 3-6, Mitchell 1-3, Smith 1-5, Garza 0-2), Westlake 5-17 (Houston 2-4, Kemper 2-5, Doolin 1-4, Fell 0-1, Breedlove 0-1, King 0-2). Rebounds: Pflugerville 35 (Mitchell 8, Ebomwonyi 8), Westlake 36 (Meyertons 10). Assists: Pflugerville 12 (Todd 3), Westlake 7 (Doolin 4). Steals: Pflugerville 12 (Mitchell 6), Westlake 8 (Doolin 3). Blocks: Pflugerville 6 (Ebomwonyi 5), Westlake 2 (Meyertons 2). Turnovers: Pflugerville 18, Westlake 18. Total fouls: Pflugerville 17, Westlake 19.