By Thomas Jones, Sports Editor 

Perhaps his soft touch on a series of pull-up jumpers accounted for Cody Doolin’s career night against Akins last Friday. Possibly a trio of three-pointers that kept the defense stretched thin led to his 42 points. Maybe relentless drives to the hoop – and the subsequent 13 free throws – proved the difference as Doolin led his team to a 88-77 win.

But with a quick shake of his head, Doolin shrugs off those factors and glances at his fellow Chaps warming up before a recent practice.

“Give credit to my teammates,” he said. “They’re hitting their shots, and when they do that, I get open.”

The Chaps have been hitting their shots with abundance this season. As a team, Westlake is connecting on 42 percent of its shots in an up-tempo attack. The team averages almost six made three-point shots a game, and it’s scoring more than 70 points a contest while garnering a 19-4 record entering tonight’s critical District 25-5A game against Pflugerville.

Ironically, Doolin – Westlake’s leading scorer a year ago – is the only veteran player whose scoring numbers haven’t increased dramatically since last season, although he still leads the team with 19.5 points a game.

But that’s just fine with the 6-foot-2-inch junior point guard, whose impact on the game has deepened in new coach Tres Ellis’ breakneck pace. 

“My role has definitely changed,” he said. “Last year, I had to score the bulk of the points because that’s what the offense was designed to do. But this year, Coach Ellis wanted me to get my teammates more involved and to pass the ball. He wants me to get well-rounded; steals, rebounds, assists. Mainly, he wants me to run the offense and take care of the ball.”

Doolin has taken care of his teammates by averaging 6.3 assists per game and mastering Ellis’ game plan. His passing has helped each of his teammates from a year ago improve their scoring average; forward Connor Kemper has increased his scoring from 12.2 to 14.8 points a game, guard Cliff Houston has upped his average from 2.9 to 8.9, and Chris King has gone from 2.8 to seven points a contest.

“That’s Cody as a playmaker,” Ellis said. “He’s good at understanding when guys are open, and he understands that it will open things up for him down the road.”

According to one of the players whose game has thrived this season, Doolin’s trust in his teammates has benefited every Chap.

“Cody is such a good driver,” Houston said. “When he gets in the lane, the defense either has to collapse or he’ll get a layup. And if they do collapse, he’ll kick it out, and we’ll make the shot. Either way, we’re going to score.”

That increase in scoring comes from what Doolin calls Westlake’s “freelance” offense. The Chaps’ up-and-down attack creates plenty of floor space and open shots for players willing to launch jumpers. 

And in Ellis’ style, a player not willing to take an open shot will quickly find an open seat on the bench.

“Frankly, Coach Ellis’ system gives everyone more chances,” Doolin said. “We’re wearing teams down. I’d say that’s why I’m passing more; a lot more guys are open. 

“Last year, you’d almost know who was going to shoot every time. Now, it’s a lot less set. I feel like it plays to everybody’s strengths. We’re real talented and real deep. It’s not hard to find a guy who can make a shot.”

Of course, Doolin can still make his shots when needed, as he showed against Akins. With the Eagles locked primarily into a man-to-man defense, Doolin drove into the lane with impunity while connecting on 13-of-23 shots.

“Akins went to a 2-3 zone for a few minutes, but we shot them right out of it,” he said. “Then they had to go man. If they get up on me like they did, I just get around them and kick it if someone comes over to help. But I was definitely feeling it.”

Ellis quickly pointed out that Doolin’s big game against Akins came on just 23 shot attempts.

“That’s the beauty of it,” he said. “That tells you that the shots are coming in the flow of the game, and that he’s not forcing them.”

Those words could apply to the entire season.