HS Boys Basketball: Intense Matchup Leaves Grand Oaks Still Unbeaten Atop the 13-6A Standings

SPRING, TX -- The Grand Oaks Grizzlies defeated the visiting Willis Wildkats in a thrilling 60-51 matchup that shook up the 13-6A standings.

Grand Oaks’ 6-0 record through district play kept the squad as the team to beat, coming in at first in the overall standings. But with the teams behind them all very talented, the Grizzlies knew they could have to continue their top-of-the-line play to stay ahead of the pack.

In an exclusive interview with The Woodlands Online Sports, Grand Oaks Head Coach Anthony Stephens spoke on his team’s preparation for the first-time opponent Wildkats.

“It was just another day, another opportunity to compete,” explained Stephens. “I wouldn’t say we took [Willis] lightly. They are long, athletic, and talented, but I told the guys to be who we are.”

Both teams kicked off the matchup with a rapid pace and an offensive-heavy approach, with a flurry of baskets inside the paint. Authoritative drives from the guards pierced the defenses for athletic makes through traffic.

No such luck was had by the shooters in space. Open looks from behind the arch or distance jump shots during the first quarter failed to hit their marks.

“I told the guys we were settling,” said Stephens. “We make shots at a high clip and I think we’re a really good three-point shooting team. But when shots aren’t falling, we got to get to the paint.”

With the shots missing and the defenses settling in, the first quarter remained a low-scoring affair. The longest run of the opening eight minutes was a pair of 4-0 runs from the Wildkats that were enough to push the visitors into double digits.

Drives in transition from Tyshon Nixon and Chandler Beasley soared past the Grand Oaks defenders for reliable looks, while they sit in sync on defense with the rest of their teammates.

A 3-0 run from the Grizzlies broke the team’s scoring woes late in the quarter, but Willis’ control throughout provided the Wildkats with a 10-9 lead headed into the second quarter.

“We had to get paint touches,” said Stephens on adjustments. “We got to get kick-outs, play off two feet, and get to the free throw line. We just settled too much in the first.”

Grand Oaks’ run that ended the first quarter carried into the second. A quick make near the rim pushed the team’s run to 5-0, but the Wildkats responded with a run of their own that briefly swung control back to their side.

A responding 5-0 run, including the first three of the game from Beasley, immediately pushed Willis back into the driver’s seat. But with how delicate their lead was, the Wildkats were playing a dangerous game given how quickly the Grizzlies could notch up their scoring.

Despite their continued inefficiency from behind the three-point line, Grand Oak’s possessions peppered the basket with shot attempts. Each attempt ratcheted tension higher, culminating in another Grizzly run to retake the lead.

Empty possessions from the Wildkats worked in tandem with back-to-back makes from the Grand Oaks offense to snag the lead back. The 4-0 run did just enough to secure a small Grizzly lead, but just like the rest of the game, the Wildkats fought back for another momentum changer.

The largest run of the game put on by either team propelled the Wildkats into the biggest momentum changer of the half. An onslaught of contested makes by Willis led to an eventual 9-0 run to secure the lead going into the locker rooms.

Grand Oaks replied with a 5-0 run, including a buzzer-beater three, before the end of the half, but a 26-23 Wildkat lead was significant in demonstrating the fight from two squads determined to leave with a win.

“Guys made plays,” said Stephens. “K.J. Waddell made big plays. He made big shots. He took about two or three charges. That’s what leaders do. When we needed a stop and we needed a bucket, he made a play.”

After taking time to adjust the teams returned to the floor hoping to make enough of a difference to build a sizable lead in their favor.

Willis’ tried and reliable approach of minimizing the distance to the rim before putting up shots worked well in keeping the team in front despite the changes made by Grand Oaks.

Meanwhile, the Grizzlies shifted their focus offensively to rely on skip passes and quick ball movement to find holes in the Wildkat defense. Even with a handful of turnovers due to sailed passes, Grand Oaks successfully forced the sixth lead change of the game.

Two more trades of the lead ensued before a 4-0 Grizzly run ignited the tension-filled Grand Oaks gym with an explosive cheer. Even a timeout from Willis failed to halt the Grizzly momentum that culminated in a high-flying, and-one layup for Trae Lewis.

A Wildkat three stole some of the Grizzly thunder before the end of the quarter, but the second buzzer-beater three of the game for Grand Oaks brought the energy right back.

Grand Oaks’ largest lead of the night came at just the right time. The 42-35 lead for the home team was significant, but it would need to be protected during the final eight minutes of play.

“We dug our heels into the ground and we got the stops we needed,” said Stephens. “We finished possessions offensively and defensively.”

Tension filled the gym ahead of an incredibly important eight minutes. Willis’ hopes of an away upset clung to their offensive approach, while Grand Oaks’ bid to remain perfect through district rested on composure through pressure.

A 4-0 opening run from the Wildkats put the comeback into a manageable position, but turnovers prevented it from becoming fully realized.

Intercepted passes and poking hands by the Grizzlies snuffed out a handful of Willis’ early possessions that were needed to swing momentum.

“I’m proud of them,” said Stephens in praise of his team’s defense. “It’s frustrating to find a way to win when you’re not shooting the ball well, we’re not scoring well, and when things just aren’t going your way. But, I think we persevered.”

Willis’ turnovers became Grand Oaks’ offense through the midpoint of the fourth. Runners on fastbreaks like Lewis and Danny Roland blazed past the flatfooted Wildkat defenders for back-breaking layups that tied the game-high lead at eight.

Precious seconds ticked away from the Wildkats as they tried to claw their way back into the contest. A full-court press tried to force steals in the open floor, while more head-down drives into the paint attempted to secure reliable points.

The fresh focus did add pressure to an already intense situation, but the reply of more steals from the Grizzlies muted any meaningful noise from the Wildkats.

Lewis’ lengthy takeover of the scoresheet pushed Grand Oaks to a 12-point lead with less than two minutes remaining. His 15-point closing quarter performance was enough to almost single-handedly outscore Willis, sealing the deal before the final buzzer.

“[Lewis] has grown mentally,” said Stephens. “He’s always been talented. He’s always been able to put the ball in the hole, but I told him that it’s the mental aspect. He’d won the physical battle and now that he can win the mental battle, he’ll be nearly unbeatable.”

Any last-ditch attempts to complete the Wildkat comeback ended in the face of the double-digit lead.

No late fouls from the Wildkats allowed the Grizzlies to dribble out the final seconds of a hard-fought 60-51 win.

The scrappy win against a talented opponent keeps the Grizzlies unbeaten through district while preparing the squad for its second run-through of the 13-6A slate.

“We played a really tough schedule,” said Stephens. “We aren’t going to get too high on our horse just because we won a couple of games. We lost to a lot of schools that are gearing up for San Antonio. So when we win our district games, which we want to win every game we play, we know that bigger picture has us on a run in San Antonio.”

Grand Oaks’ next test at remaining perfect through the district will come on Saturday at Caney Creek while Willis licks its wounds and takes a short break before their next game on the 14th.

Photos