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Warriors dealing with injuries as state tourney approaches
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| The Woodlands Christian Academy’s Joe Carr dribbles downcourt during the Warriors' first-round playoff win over Pasadena First Baptist. |
By MIKE TAYLOR
Never before have two left ankles received so much attention.
As The Woodlands Christian Academy prepares for the TAPPS 3A state semifinals, two of the Warriors’ all-state players are trying to overcome injuries.
Six-foot-7 forward Derek Johnson suffered a sprain during practice last week and missed Saturday’s 43-30 regional final victory over League City’s Bay Area Christian School. Johnson had a cast put on his lower left leg and has used crutches since late last week.
TWCA point guard Joe Carr, a Virginia Military Institute signee, sprained his left ankle earlier this week. He was already playing on a gimpy right ankle. It now takes 10 minutes for Carr to have his ankles sufficiently taped prior to practice.
“I feel like I’m part of a MASH company,” TWCA assistant Bill Storey said at practice Wednesday.
The defending state champion Warriors (30-4) play Arlington’s Pantego Christian Academy (20-9) Friday at Mansfield Summit High School with a berth in the state finals on the line.
“They’re quick, athletic and one of the best shooting teams we’ve faced,” TWCA coach Darrel Johnson said.
The Panthers aren’t a big team, however, and that should help if Derek Johnson is unable to play Friday.
“I don’t see how he’s going to play,” Darrel Johnson said. “Even if he did play, he’d only be 40 percent.”
Watching from the bench Saturday was not easy for the University of Evansville signee, who had kept off his ankle until walking on it for the first time Wednesday afternoon.
“I hate it,” Johnson said.
Carr practiced Wednesday with a noticeable limp, but said he’d be 80-90 percent by Friday’s 5 p.m. tipoff.
Carr has missed 10 games this season, and Saturday was Johnson’s fourth absence of the season. Senior Evan Flance has readily filled the void in their absence, averaging 14 points and five rebounds. He scored a game-high 20 points Saturday.
“Evan’s been playing great,” Darrel Johnson said. “Other guys have to step up. Cameron Wilson hit a huge shot Saturday, Zaheed Hall has played great defense and Sterling Frand is probably our best defender.”
The Warriors will practice Thursday afternoon, and Johnson will again test his ankle, before leaving for Mansfield.
“On defense he is the shot-blocker,” Carr said of Johnson. “He leads in rebounds. Everybody has to step up and rebound more.”
Bullard’s The Brook Hill School and Fort Worth’s Lake Country Christian School will play the other semi Friday at Mansfield Summit at 3:30 p.m. The championship game is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday at Mansfield Legacy High School.
“We’re just trying to limp to the finish,” Darrel Johnson said.
The coach did have a final word of encouragement for his team at practice’s end Wednesday. Hotel rooms for Friday night have already been booked because the Warriors plan on playing again Saturday.
“If we play defense like we’re capable of, like we have all year, we’ll be fine,” he said.
TAPPS 3A State tournament
Friday’s semifinal games: The Woodlands Christian Academy (30-4) vs. Arlington’s Pantego Christian Academy (20-9), 5 p.m. at Mansfield Summit High School; Bullard’s The Brook Hill School vs. Fort Worth’s Lake Country Christian School, 3:30 p.m. at Manfield Summit High School
Saturday’s championship game: Semifinal winners, 1 p.m. at Mansfield Legacy High School
As The Woodlands Christian Academy prepares for the TAPPS 3A state semifinals, two of the Warriors’ all-state players are trying to overcome injuries.
Six-foot-7 forward Derek Johnson suffered a sprain during practice last week and missed Saturday’s 43-30 regional final victory over League City’s Bay Area Christian School. Johnson had a cast put on his lower left leg and has used crutches since late last week.
TWCA point guard Joe Carr, a Virginia Military Institute signee, sprained his left ankle earlier this week. He was already playing on a gimpy right ankle. It now takes 10 minutes for Carr to have his ankles sufficiently taped prior to practice.
“I feel like I’m part of a MASH company,” TWCA assistant Bill Storey said at practice Wednesday.
The defending state champion Warriors (30-4) play Arlington’s Pantego Christian Academy (20-9) Friday at Mansfield Summit High School with a berth in the state finals on the line.
“They’re quick, athletic and one of the best shooting teams we’ve faced,” TWCA coach Darrel Johnson said.
The Panthers aren’t a big team, however, and that should help if Derek Johnson is unable to play Friday.
“I don’t see how he’s going to play,” Darrel Johnson said. “Even if he did play, he’d only be 40 percent.”
Watching from the bench Saturday was not easy for the University of Evansville signee, who had kept off his ankle until walking on it for the first time Wednesday afternoon.
“I hate it,” Johnson said.
Carr practiced Wednesday with a noticeable limp, but said he’d be 80-90 percent by Friday’s 5 p.m. tipoff.
Carr has missed 10 games this season, and Saturday was Johnson’s fourth absence of the season. Senior Evan Flance has readily filled the void in their absence, averaging 14 points and five rebounds. He scored a game-high 20 points Saturday.
“Evan’s been playing great,” Darrel Johnson said. “Other guys have to step up. Cameron Wilson hit a huge shot Saturday, Zaheed Hall has played great defense and Sterling Frand is probably our best defender.”
The Warriors will practice Thursday afternoon, and Johnson will again test his ankle, before leaving for Mansfield.
“On defense he is the shot-blocker,” Carr said of Johnson. “He leads in rebounds. Everybody has to step up and rebound more.”
Bullard’s The Brook Hill School and Fort Worth’s Lake Country Christian School will play the other semi Friday at Mansfield Summit at 3:30 p.m. The championship game is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday at Mansfield Legacy High School.
“We’re just trying to limp to the finish,” Darrel Johnson said.
The coach did have a final word of encouragement for his team at practice’s end Wednesday. Hotel rooms for Friday night have already been booked because the Warriors plan on playing again Saturday.
“If we play defense like we’re capable of, like we have all year, we’ll be fine,” he said.
TAPPS 3A State tournament
Friday’s semifinal games: The Woodlands Christian Academy (30-4) vs. Arlington’s Pantego Christian Academy (20-9), 5 p.m. at Mansfield Summit High School; Bullard’s The Brook Hill School vs. Fort Worth’s Lake Country Christian School, 3:30 p.m. at Manfield Summit High School
Saturday’s championship game: Semifinal winners, 1 p.m. at Mansfield Legacy High School
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