WAXAHACHIE RUNNIN’ INDIANS CLIMB 6A STATE POLL FOLLOWING DOMINANT DISTRICT WEEK

By Travis M. Smith | KBEC Sports

WAXAHACHIE — To say the state-ranked Waxahachie Runnin’ Indians dominated their first two district basketball games would be an understatement.

Waxahachie (9-2, 2-0 in 11-6A) limited both of its first two District 11-6A opponents — Waco Midway and Mansfield Lake Ridge — to 12-points or fewer in all eight quarters played this past week. Seven of those quarters ended in single digits for the opponent.

The insanely physical and active Runnin’ Indian press also forced 63 combined turnovers during the two district victories. Waxahachie ultimately outscored the two teams 159-62.

The Texas Association of Basketball Coaches rewarded the effort with a short climb inside the top-5 of the 6A boys’ basketball poll.

The Runnin’ Indians now check-in at No. 3 in the 6A poll — up one spot from the previous week and the previous year, as Waxahachie entered the same week ranked No. 4 in 2020.

WACO MIDWAY
Waxahachie poured in 70 points in the first three quarters after carrying a 47-18 lead into the halftime locker room inside Michael Key Turner Gymnasium in Waxahachie on Thursday.

Midway managed just 12 points in the first quarter, which started Waxahachie’s streak of seven consecutive quarters holding opponents under 10 points.

The Runnin’ Indians’ press limited the Panthers to just six, nine and nine points in the second through fourth quarters, respectively.

Montez Young and Prince Banks led the team with 15 points. Young, a senior forward, just missed a double-double with a team-best nine rebounds.

CJ Noland poured in 13 points, while Jalen Lake had 8, Jordan Davis scored seven, V’Zarion Roberson and Darkuan King both added six points.

David McKnight led all Midway scorers with 14 points. Midway, as a team, turned the ball over 31 times in the ball game.

MANSFIELD LAKE RIDGE
The Runnin’ Indians forced 32 turnovers — while committing just 12 — on Saturday afternoon inside the MKT against Mansfield Lake Ridge.

Waxahachie outscored the Eagles 46-11 from about the two-minute mark of the second quarter through the final buzzer.

Banks and Young again led the Runnin’ Indians’ offensive efforts, only this time the latter secured his double-double with a game-high 15 rebounds.

Lake added 11 points, Noland had eight, and King and Davis each scored six.

Not a single Eagle reached double figures, as Cody Stevens led all Lake Ridge scorers with 9 points — all of which came on three first-half three-pointers. Lake Ridge scored just two points in the fourth quarter.

UPDATED TABC 6A POLL
Though Waxahachie checks in at No. 3 in this week’s 6A poll, the Runnin’ Indians are not the lone District 11-6A team ranked inside the top-25.

Duncanville still sits atop the state’s highest classification with a 12-0 mark, while (10-1) Mansfield begins the week at No. 21.

Waxahachie is slated to tipoff on the road against Duncanville at 1:30 p.m. Saturday. The Tribe will then face Mansfield at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 13 at Michael Key Turner Gymnasium in Waxahachie.

Other notable ranked 6A teams in the area include former-district-foe No. 6 (9-0) South Grand Prairie, No. 12 (15-0) North Crowley, No. 13 (14-2) McKinney, No. 16 (10-4) Lewisville, No. 22 (9-2) Allen and No. 23 (9-4) Flower Mound Marcus.

UP NEXT
Waxahachie returns to action at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday on the road against Cedar Hill.