First playoff win under Brooks proves worth an extra four minutes

Jackets eliminate Castleberry in OT, meet Hirschi Saturday in Jacksboro

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By BRAD KEITH
TheFlashToday.com

(February 20, 2018) — Stephenville scored on its opening two possessions of overtime and made a stop in between to seize control in a 60-56 Region I-4A bi-district playoff victory over Fort Worth Castleberry at Brock High School Tuesday evening.

“We won the tip and scored right away at the beginning of overtime, then we just stayed three or four points ahead,” said Bill Brooks, who in his third season as head coach celebrated his first playoff win. “It was a lot of fun and a lot of stress at the same time. The kids played hard.”

They had to, especially with two regulars fouling out late in regulation. If the Yellow Jackets felt shorthanded going into the extra four-minute stanza, it didn’t show.

“Castleberry has a good team and I was nervous going into overtime without (Mason) Holstein and (Cole) Pettit,,” Brooks said. “But in the end I was proud of the way the other guys stepped up.”

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Before the Yellow Jackets could win the game, they had to survive the end of regulation.

“We were down four with three minutes left and they tried to stall a little bit,” Brooks explained. “We did a good job of being patient and then when they missed we got the rebound and kept holding them to just one shot.”

It all led to Cole Pettit providing the tying points before fouling out, and Stephenville even had the ball last with a chance to win it, but missed the final attempt of the standard 32 minutes to bring on the extra four.

The Yellow Jackets earn an area-round match-up with No. 7 Wichita Falls Hirschi, set for 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Jacksboro.

“They’re really good, they’re ranked seventh in the state for a reason,” Brooks said. “They’re a lot like the top teams in our district (Midlothian Heritage and Waxahachie Life), so we know what to expect.”

One way to provide themselves with a shit against Hirschi – hit shots at the rate they did against Castleberry, when they were 22-37 (59 percent) from the floor.

Another round of contributions coming from throughout the roster would help.

Skylar Stilwell pouring in 17 is no surprise, nor is it a shock to see Holstein on his heels with 16. A big aide to their performances offensively were five others chipping in at least 4.

Blake Aragon, Cody Storrs and Pettit scored six each, Braden Hayes netted five and Mason chippped in four. Hayes grabbed seven boards ams Aragon collected six, whike Holstein swiped three steals and Pettit two.

“Everyone cintributed so it was a geat team, said Brooks.

One he, of course, will never forget,l. One thay will forever be remembered as being worth every second, even four extra minutes.

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