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The Wildcats are optimistic as they prepare for district play
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| The Wildcats’ unity has played a key role in their success this season. All of the players have came up through ranks as freshman to form a tight bond. |
By KEVIN KOLOIAN
As Dekaney prepares for district play, coach Jeff Wylie believes his team will be ready after adjusting a few things on defense.
“We’ve got to fix some stuff. We are giving up penetration way too easy, but we are gradually getting better,” Wylie said. “We are getting better at closing down the lane, and recovering on defense at a quicker rate.”
The Wildcats first district game may be their toughest one yet as they host Westfield on Jan. 3.
“It’s huge playing a district rival right off of the bat,” Wylie said. “It’s going to be an interesting situation with the first game of district play coming off of a holiday. All we can do is prepare our guys mentally.”
The Wildcats must use their quickness and athleticism to make up for their lack of size against Westfield.
“We don’t have 6’5” guys, so we have to lock out,” Wylie explained. “They outsize us, so we have to be pretty sharp as far getting rebounds and we have to shoot outside and hope some three-pointers fall.”
Turning their defense into their best offense has been the Wildcats’ recipe for winning. But with an all-around team like Westfield, Dekaney will have to prepare for a variety of offensive styles.
“They can shoot the ball and penetrate the point. They can also dump it inside to the big guys, so we are going to have to be ready for all of those things,” Wylie said.
The x-factor for the Wildcats is Sebastian Douglas. Routinely putting up more than 18 points a game, if he is on then the team should do well.
“He’s a guy who is a difference maker in the ball game,” Wylie said. “He’s so athletic that you can put him on the block, you can put him on the wing or you can put him at the point guards.”
The game will come two days after the Conroe Classic, a tournament that the Wildcats hope helps them get their skills and legs back after the long Christmas lay-off.
Hovering around .500, the Wildcats proved to themselves that they can hang with some good teams.
Coming off of a 68-59 victory over Kingwood Park, Wylie said the team is gelling like it needs to.
“It was a grow up victory and definitely a morale booster,” he said. “We still have some issues on our team, like the kids not really understanding their roles yet. But I think now that we are getting closer to districts we starting to find the guys that are going to help us and be contributors.”
“We’ve got to fix some stuff. We are giving up penetration way too easy, but we are gradually getting better,” Wylie said. “We are getting better at closing down the lane, and recovering on defense at a quicker rate.”
The Wildcats first district game may be their toughest one yet as they host Westfield on Jan. 3.
“It’s huge playing a district rival right off of the bat,” Wylie said. “It’s going to be an interesting situation with the first game of district play coming off of a holiday. All we can do is prepare our guys mentally.”
The Wildcats must use their quickness and athleticism to make up for their lack of size against Westfield.
“We don’t have 6’5” guys, so we have to lock out,” Wylie explained. “They outsize us, so we have to be pretty sharp as far getting rebounds and we have to shoot outside and hope some three-pointers fall.”
Turning their defense into their best offense has been the Wildcats’ recipe for winning. But with an all-around team like Westfield, Dekaney will have to prepare for a variety of offensive styles.
“They can shoot the ball and penetrate the point. They can also dump it inside to the big guys, so we are going to have to be ready for all of those things,” Wylie said.
The x-factor for the Wildcats is Sebastian Douglas. Routinely putting up more than 18 points a game, if he is on then the team should do well.
“He’s a guy who is a difference maker in the ball game,” Wylie said. “He’s so athletic that you can put him on the block, you can put him on the wing or you can put him at the point guards.”
The game will come two days after the Conroe Classic, a tournament that the Wildcats hope helps them get their skills and legs back after the long Christmas lay-off.
Hovering around .500, the Wildcats proved to themselves that they can hang with some good teams.
Coming off of a 68-59 victory over Kingwood Park, Wylie said the team is gelling like it needs to.
“It was a grow up victory and definitely a morale booster,” he said. “We still have some issues on our team, like the kids not really understanding their roles yet. But I think now that we are getting closer to districts we starting to find the guys that are going to help us and be contributors.”
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