Sports > Schools
Boys basketball: Different sport, same story: DeSoto eliminates Coppell in second round
By Justin Thomas, jthomas@starlocalnews.com
Facing a strong defensive unit, Coppell's boys basketball team was at its best offensively early against DeSoto.
But the Cowboys were unable to maintain their efficiency throughout, eventually falling to the No. 1 team in the state in the second round of the playoffs, 69-41.
"[DeSoto is] by far and away the best defensive team we've seen this year," said Kit Pehl, Coppell head coach. "Maybe the best defensive team I've seen in a while. They're athletic and they guard hard."
Coppell trailed, 16-13, after one quarter but was outscored in the second, 19-5, and in the third, 18-10.
"We played really well early and our plan was to try and maintain possessions," Pehl said. "Our best defense was having great possessions on offense. We were really moving the ball and getting good shots. But we were playing so well on offense, I think we started settling and shooting too quickly. We kind of had a bulletproof mentality and were not taking as good of shots."
As a result, the Eagles went on a 16-0 run in the second, many of which were in transition.
"The second quarter really hurt," Pehl added. "We weren't patient enough and needed to control the time of possession more to have a chance to beat a team like DeSoto, because I thought our defense was respectable."
Landon Goesling posted a team-high 10 points for Coppell, while Simi Socks had eight and Cody Carver scored six. Duke signee and McDonald's All-American Matt Jones paced the Eagles with 22 points.
Late in the third, DeSoto put the game away as the Cowboys picked up their pressure.
"It was in the middle double figures most of the way," Pehl said. "But we weren't going to be good with that. We tried to trap and make some things happen and it got away from us."
The squad was coming off a win Feb. 19 in the bi-district round over Irving MacArthur, 52-38.
After falling behind in the first quarter, 11-7, Coppell rebounded to take 23-22 advantage at halftime and cranked it up in the third quarter with a 17-7 spurt.
"We were a little tight early," Pehl said. "We weren't playing terribly, but we told the kids at halftime that they were taking care of MacArthur but we weren't taking care of ourselves."
Coppell picked up its defense in the second half as its press forced MacArthur into numerous turnovers.
Goesling led the charge with 15 points, while Carver had 11 and Socks scored eight.
"Cody was outstanding," Pehl said. "He really stuck out on the defensive end. He got steals and deflections that sparked our offense and brought a lot of energy. And he did it when we needed it the most."
While Coppell would go on to fall in its ensuing contest, Pehl was still pleased with a squad that won four of its last five games in district to qualify for the playoffs before winning in the first round.
"We had a lot of growth," he said. "The guys really bought into the system and bought in hard defensively and maintained that throughout. Late in the year, we really started to come around. I'm proud of the second half because we were kind of at a low, but they bought in and stayed the course and were rewarded for it. This team was a pleasure to coach."
The postseason experience could prove key next year when Coppell returns approximately 90 percent of its scoring.
"We return a lot, but we also graduate seven players and I don't want to minimize what they did for us," Pehl said. "Our seniors played a big role in what we were able to do in the second half."
But the Cowboys were unable to maintain their efficiency throughout, eventually falling to the No. 1 team in the state in the second round of the playoffs, 69-41.
"[DeSoto is] by far and away the best defensive team we've seen this year," said Kit Pehl, Coppell head coach. "Maybe the best defensive team I've seen in a while. They're athletic and they guard hard."
Coppell trailed, 16-13, after one quarter but was outscored in the second, 19-5, and in the third, 18-10.
"We played really well early and our plan was to try and maintain possessions," Pehl said. "Our best defense was having great possessions on offense. We were really moving the ball and getting good shots. But we were playing so well on offense, I think we started settling and shooting too quickly. We kind of had a bulletproof mentality and were not taking as good of shots."
As a result, the Eagles went on a 16-0 run in the second, many of which were in transition.
"The second quarter really hurt," Pehl added. "We weren't patient enough and needed to control the time of possession more to have a chance to beat a team like DeSoto, because I thought our defense was respectable."
Landon Goesling posted a team-high 10 points for Coppell, while Simi Socks had eight and Cody Carver scored six. Duke signee and McDonald's All-American Matt Jones paced the Eagles with 22 points.
Late in the third, DeSoto put the game away as the Cowboys picked up their pressure.
"It was in the middle double figures most of the way," Pehl said. "But we weren't going to be good with that. We tried to trap and make some things happen and it got away from us."
The squad was coming off a win Feb. 19 in the bi-district round over Irving MacArthur, 52-38.
After falling behind in the first quarter, 11-7, Coppell rebounded to take 23-22 advantage at halftime and cranked it up in the third quarter with a 17-7 spurt.
"We were a little tight early," Pehl said. "We weren't playing terribly, but we told the kids at halftime that they were taking care of MacArthur but we weren't taking care of ourselves."
Coppell picked up its defense in the second half as its press forced MacArthur into numerous turnovers.
Goesling led the charge with 15 points, while Carver had 11 and Socks scored eight.
"Cody was outstanding," Pehl said. "He really stuck out on the defensive end. He got steals and deflections that sparked our offense and brought a lot of energy. And he did it when we needed it the most."
While Coppell would go on to fall in its ensuing contest, Pehl was still pleased with a squad that won four of its last five games in district to qualify for the playoffs before winning in the first round.
"We had a lot of growth," he said. "The guys really bought into the system and bought in hard defensively and maintained that throughout. Late in the year, we really started to come around. I'm proud of the second half because we were kind of at a low, but they bought in and stayed the course and were rewarded for it. This team was a pleasure to coach."
The postseason experience could prove key next year when Coppell returns approximately 90 percent of its scoring.
"We return a lot, but we also graduate seven players and I don't want to minimize what they did for us," Pehl said. "Our seniors played a big role in what we were able to do in the second half."
Copyright © 2013 - Star Local News