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JBSA News
NEWS | March 12, 2009

Stacey falls in state semifinals

By Patrick Desmond 37th Training Wing Public Affairs

March has been madness for Coach Mike Flores and the Stacey High School Eagles as they earned the title of regional champions Saturday and played Plains in their first-ever berth in the Class A Division I state semifinals today.

Stacey (26-6) gave Plains (32-1) all it could handle in a disappointing loss when they met Thursday at the University of Texas' Frank Erwin Center.

The Eagles outscored Plains in each of the game's first three quarters, reaching a game-high eight-point lead at the start of the fourth. However, Plains rallied to score 17 fourth-quarter points to seal the comeback win, 43-41.

"We just stopped making shots, shots we have made all year long," Flores said. "That's the bottom line."

Advancing past last year's high-water mark of a regional semifinals appearance, Flores said nerves was somewhat of a factor down the stretch.

"With the crowd yelling and us losing the lead, I think it was a little bit of a factor," he said. 

Stacey's leading scorer, senior David Clark, who was averaging 25 points in the playoffs, was held to 15 on the day.

The game remained close throughout after Stacey opened the first quarter on a 7-0 run, sparked by Clark's three-pointer, but Plains responded with second-chance points to finish the quarter down by one.

The Eagles went up 21-19 at halftime. Justyn Lewis provided a spark in the second, scoring five of the team's 12 points in the quarter.

The Eagles pushed their lead to six by the end of the third period. Garrett Wimsatt finished off a play made possible by four offensive rebounds to put the Eagles up by four and Jaxon Moton added a jumper before the clock expired to make the score 32-26.

Extending their lead to eight to open the fourth quarter, the Eagles fell into a drought, allowing Plains 10 straight points to take the lead.

Down five with 30 seconds left, the Eagles attempted to get back in the game from the three-point arc. Clark hit one to pull within two but with five seconds left the game was out of reach.

Stacey's road to the semifinals came on the heels of an undefeated district season, a dominating run through the playoffs that ended with the journey to the state tournament in Austin.

"If we were to do it all over again and lose again, I would take it," Flores said. "Just to make it here and get to play on the Erwin Center basketball court, no (the loss) doesn't change anything."

Playing at the state tournament afforded the Eagles more exposure to fans and media than available to the Class A team during the regular season.

"It's been crazy," Flores said March 9 following their regional playoff win. "I've been on the phone and computer all day. It's ridiculous."

Stacey beat Bruni, Gervin Academy, Normangee and Bremond to setup today's game.