DeSoto gets a win over Waxahachie in district opener
18. DeSoto Eagles (69) – 10. Waxahachie Indians (54) Two of the top teams from UIL district 7-6A matched up on Tuesday night to tip-off district play. The Indians of Waxahachie visited the Eagles of DeSoto. Both teams were coming off losses to national…
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Continue Reading18. DeSoto Eagles (69) – 10. Waxahachie Indians (54)
Two of the top teams from UIL district 7-6A matched up on Tuesday night to tip-off district play. The Indians of Waxahachie visited the Eagles of DeSoto. Both teams were coming off losses to national powerhouse IMG Academy and wanted to get back on track with a district win.
1st Q | 2nd Q | 3rd Q | 4th Q | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Waxahachie |
10 |
15 |
15 |
14 |
54 |
DeSoto |
16 |
17 |
20 |
16 |
69 |
The game was back and forth to start out the first quarter. DeSoto eventually opened up a lead as big as 12 within the first half, but went into the locker room up eight.
In the second half, the Eagles secured their lead. By the start of the fourth quarter, it was evident that Waxahachie digged themselves too deep of a whole. DeSoto eventually opened the lead to as much as 19 through a 12-0 run and closed the Indians out with a 15-point victory.
The Eagles now have opened up district play with an 1-0 start. Here are the players from both teams that stood out:
Player Breakdown
Jarius Hicklen • 6’2″ • SG • DeSoto • 2019 PHTX 200-2019 (96)
Hicklen was simply outstanding for Desoto. The unsigned senior was filling it up from all three levels. He caught fire to start out the game. He drilled in a few threes and finished with 17 points in the first 16 minutes. In the second half, Hicklen still was cooking. He scored 13 points, and concluded with a game-high 30 points in the win. Hicklen has been on a scoring tear this season. Look for him to rise in our next updated senior rankings.
Duncan Powell • 6’7″ • PF • DeSoto • 2021 PHTX 50-2021 (6)
In today’s age where the three point shot is so valuable, it is easy for players to drift out and fall in love with the long ball. Duncan tends to get trigger happy from deep and is capable of knocking it down. However, he showed that he is more effective playing in the paint. He finished through contact, was extremely active on the boards, and made a lot of great passes that lead to easy scores. Powell also was eager to play above the rim. If he plays inside then out and consistently displays an all-around game, he will truly be a problem. He scored 11 points and grabbed multiple rebounds in the win.
Claven Wilson • 6’6″ • PF • DeSoto • 2019 PHTX 200-2019 (99)
DeSoto used their height to their advantage and Wilson’s effort on the glass was prominent in the win. He has fully transitioned into a stretch four who does not mind getting physical when he needs to. Wilson looks to have added strength to his great basketball frame during the fall. The unsigned senior added 11 points in the win.
C.J. Noland • 6’2″ • SG • Waxahachie • 2021 PHTX 50-2021 (43)
The sophomore guard is playing with a bunch of confidence. He currently leads this Indian team in scoring and continued to do the same in the loss. Noland scored a team-high 18 points. He is asserting himself as a spot-up threat from deep and will attack off the bounce or make the proper cuts to finish with tough lay-ins in the paint. It will be interesting to see if Noland can keep up this level of play throughout district and playoffs.