No. 11 Runnin’ Indians turn toward second half with room for growth

By Travis M. Smith | KBEC Sports The Waxahachie Runnin’ Indians were humbled on Friday. The loss was their first in 7-6A this season — and they bounced back quite nicely on Tuesday. Waxahachie defeated struggling Mansfield Summit inside Mike Turner Gymnasium, 58-43, to improve to 5-1 in district play and 22-4 overall. The Runnin’ Indians scored just 10 points in the first quarter, which was perfectly OK considering the woeful Mansfield Summit Jaguars mustered only four. Waxahachie then began the frame on a 7-3 run and eventually headed into the halftime locker room up 25-15. The Runnin’ Indians outscored Summit in the third quarter (17-12) and held the pace in the fourth for the 58-43 win. Junior guard CJ Noland scored a game-high 23 points with 14 of those coming in the fourth quarter. BJ Francis added 11 points, while Jalen Lake (10), AB Shorter (6), AJ Russ (6) and Christian O’Donell also contributed. “We had a little bit more energy and we moved around a little bit better,” Waxahachie head boys’ basketball coach Greg Gober told KBEC Sports following the game. “Every day has to be an improvement for us and we have to learn how to better move without the ball.” Gober added, “Every day we are trying to find something to hit us with a spark of energy. There are too many people thinking about how many points they get and they think that predicates if you had a good game or if you had value. We have to get out of that and see the value in rebounding and defending and the energy that you bring. Thankfully, this past Friday’s lesson — a 62-60 loss against now-No. 10 Grand Prairie — came with plenty of time to recover in the regular season. It should also help to ensure the Runnin’ Indians regain and stay focused ahead of a postseason or San Antonio push. Because let’s face it: This year’s Waxahachie boys’ basketball team is that good. There are a few observation-based-facts that all Runnin’ Indian fans should consider too, after all — it’s the regular season, who really cares? That question is both rhetorical and a reminder. Waxahachie should’ve (or could’ve, for the optimist) lost this past Tuesday’s home game against Mansfield. Yes, we won 57-56, but the final minute was a mess and uncharacteristic of a Gober-led team. The Tigers faltered late with two opportunities to steal the upset. A game should never be left for the referees to decide. Friday is the case-and-point for that train of thought. The Runnin’ Indians had their opportunities in the 62-60 loss to No. 10 Grand Prairie. However, debating debatable whistles and missed shots won’t change Friday’s final score. The Runnin’ Indians, minus BJ Francis, are young. Older, sure, but young. Both CJ Francis and Jalen Lake will be top-100 players in the country — and top-50 in Texas — next season. If there was ever a time to trust the learning curve, it’s now. This next sentence is hard to type, knowing that some will consider it to be shots fired. The 2019-20 Runnin’ Indians are vastly more talented on the basketball court than the 2017-18 squad led by Larry Wise (UNT), JT Warren (West Texas A&M) and Tre Gipson (Ranger Junior College). It is now time, however, for this year’s Runnin’ Indian squad to buckle down and prove that they are among the program’s all-time best. UP NEXT The Runnin’ Indians face No. 14 (19-6, 4-2) South Grand Prairie at 7:30 p.m. Friday in Grand Prairie. The Warriors have lost to Grand Prairie (72-68) and DeSoto (53-43) in 7-6A play this season.

NO. 11 RUNNIN’ INDIANS TURN TOWARD SECOND HALF WITH ROOM FOR GROWTH

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