Tuesday, November 25, 1997

Bulldogs win thriller over Coahoma, 82-80

By TED DUNNAM

Assistant Sports Editor

Dustin Williams didn't have a lot of time to think. Or do anything else.

So when he grabbed the ball 28 feet from the basket, his only alternative was to launch a low-percentage 3-pointer.

And when it went through the basket with one second remaining, it turned impending defeat for the Wylie Bulldogs into a thrilling 82-80 victory Monday night at the Wylie gym.

"I didn't even look at the clock because I knew there wasn't much time left," Williams said. "It felt good when it left my hand, and I just said 'Please go in.' "

The victory kept Wylie perfect after three games this year while talented Coahoma fell to 2-1.

Wylie, which trailed most of the game and 59-56 going into the fourth quarter, finally grabbed the lead in the early stages of the final period and eventually opened a 70-63 cushion on two Scott Schweikard free throws with 4:17 showing.

However, Coahoma rallied behind the hot hand of Blake Nichols, who scored 11 points in the final quarter.

Nichols' 3-pointer with 1:42 remaining lifted Coahoma into a 74-74 tie before Michael Beasley gave Wylie a 76-74 lead at the 1:06 mark with a basket inside.

Nichols countered that with a driving hoop, was fouled and then converted the free throw for a 77-76 Coahoma lead with 59 seconds remaining.

Beasley was then fouled with 31 seconds left and made the first of two free throws to tie the game. Wylie's Grant Gregg then rebounded the missed second shot and put in a short banker for a 79-77 Wylie lead with 27 seconds left.

Nichols again responded for Coahoma as he was fouled with 19 seconds showing. He made the first attempt, and then came up with the loose ball after the missed second shot and he rattled home a jumper from the free throw line with 13 seconds remaining for an 80-79 Coahoma lead.

Wylie then called timeout with 10 seconds left and pushed the ball into the forecourt. The Bulldogs worked the ball around the perimeter, but couldn't find an opening inside.

The ball eventually found its way to Williams well beyond the arc and he nailed his game-winning jumper.

"We did exactly what we wanted to do in our defensive setup," Coahoma head coach Kim Nichols said. "The kid hit a big shot. What else can you say? We thought they might try to go to Beasley inside so we tried to shut that down.

"Maybe we should have pressured the ball a little more when they were bringing it up, but I guess you can second-guess yourself on a lot of things. Wylie's got a good basketball team and they played well. We're not happy to come here and play well. We wanted to win."

Wylie head coach Kirby Chandler said the intent in the last 10 seconds was to get the ball inside.

"We were going to pass the ball around the zone and try to slip something inside," Chandler said. "We wanted something other than a 28-footer, but Dustin hit a big shot. It wasn't the shot we wanted, but nevertheless we'll take it. It's a win.

"Coahoma's an extremely talented team. They bass the ball well and shot the ball extremely well. Their big guys are versatile and give them a lot of options."

Wylie trailed 21-14 after one quarter and 38-30 at halftime before gradually chipping away at the Coahoma lead. When Coahoma's Jason Gwyn, who scored a game-high 23 points fouled out with 3:27 left in the game, it helped Wylie's cause.

"I thought we executed a lot better in our half-court offense in the second half," Chandler said. "We made some mistakes out there, and we gave up about as many points as we got off the press. You have those nights when you don't play your best, and you just feel fortunate to come out on top."

Boys

COAHOMA (80) - Ryan Peckham 5 1-3 11, Reggie Roberts 4 2-4 12, Jason Gwyn 9 2-2 23, Blake Nichols 8 4-7 22, Kurt Bennett 3 2-3 8, Robert Lain 1 0-0 2, David White 1 0-0 2. Totals 31 11-19 80.

WYLIE (82) - Frank Loza 4 4-5 14, Scott Schweikard 1 8-10 10, Dean Beasley 8 1-2 17, Grant Gregg 5 3-3 13, John Horn 1 0-0 2, Michael Beasley 5 3-5 13, Scott Bull 3 1-2 7, Ricky Beard 0 0-1 0, Dustin Williams 2 1-2 6. Totals 29 21-30 82.

3-point goals - Coahoma 7 (Roberts 2, Gwyn 3, Nichols 2), Wylie 3 (Loza 2, Williams 1). Fouls - Coahoma 23, Wylie 18. Fouled out - Gwyn. Technicals - None.

Records - Wylie 3-0, Coahoma 2-1.