BJ Johnson:
Future150 Southwest Regional Analyst. Covering high and middle school basketball. Dallas, TX, OK, KS.
HALTOM CITY, TX (Future150) -- The Haltom Buffalos knew sticking to their game plan would lead them to victory over their rival the Richland Rebels, lead by super sophomore CJ Roberts.
The final score of 62-49 didn’t reflect the closeness of the contest.
This matchup was more than the first district game of the season. This was about showing district 7 that the Buffalos are a true contender to win the district.
Strategy
Coach Todd Shelton knew that the Richland Rebels were smaller than his Buffalos and knew that a pair of 6'7" seniors, Andrew Stafford and Kevin Ricks, would be at a disadvantage guarding the Rebels smaller guys on the perimeter.
“If they are going to beat us, they will have to knock down shots from the outside,' said Coach Shelton.
The Buffalos played a 2-3 zone the entire game, limiting dribble penetration from Richland High.
First quarter
Richland started off the game on an 8-2 run lead by CJ Roberts (4). Haltom went straight to the high-low game with Ricks and Stafford. Stafford got great looks but couldn’t get a shot to fall.
Richland made things very hard for Haltom going to a half court trap. Haltom settled in and didn’t allow the trap to distract them. After one quarter Richland led,14-8.
Second quarter
Starting out the second quarter CJ Roberts showed off his sweet stroke knocking down two straight threes, getting the Richland Rebels crowd into the game.
Jakeem Acres of Haltom Knocks down a long three to stop the Rebels run bringing the score to 23-15 Richland. Early into the second quarter Stafford picked up his second foul, sending him to the bench. Upon Stafford's return with three minutes left in the second quarter Haltom went on a 7-0 run lead by Stafford making easy baskets, blocking shots and being a monster on the boards. You could literally see the confidence growing in the Haltom Buffalos.
Halftime score: 24-24.
Third quarter
After Haltom turned the ball over on their first possession of the second half, Roberts knocked down a deep three from the wing.
Before the game, Coach Shelton said, “If we have to, we will go box and one on CJ and make the others beat us."
That’s exactly what he did on the next possession and it proved to be a great coaching move. CJ was held to three points the entire third quarter.
Stafford caught fire in the third scoring nine points. Three of his nine came off of a powerful and-1 dunk off the break, finishing it off with a made free throw. He also showed off his ball-handling and foot work skills getting a steal and making a high level euro step and finishing. The Buffalo crowd was going wild.
Throughout the third quarter Haltom controlled the glass. Offensive rebounds earned them two and three cracks at scoring. No other second chance opportunity was bigger than the rebound kick out to Trey Thomas of Haltom, who knocked down a buzzer beater to close the third.
Fourth quarter
Anthony Scott of Richland came out in the fourth with his guns blazing, knocking down two straight three pointers. The Buffalos weren’t going to stop fighting. They collected baskets by Acres and Washington, but CJ Roberts wasn't’t going to stop fighting either. He showed why he was one of the top Sophomores in Texas and number 72 Nationally attacking the bucket with a crossover, spin and reverse layup.
On the next possession Haltom's Daylon Washington got fouled sending him to the line for a 1 and 1. Missing the first, the rebels got the rebound and hit CJ Roberts for a wide open layup, forcing the Buffalos to call a time out. Rebels were up 55-47. Haltom was held scoreless the last three minutes of the game, making it hard for them to come back.
Both teams played hard, but the Rebels came out on top this time, 62-49.
Richland High
CJ Roberts 18 points
Anthony Scott 15- five threes
Haltom High
Andrew Stafford 16 points
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