BY Kevin Hageland Staff Writer - Plano Star -
Created: Friday, January 2, 2009 10:45 PM CST

PLANO - ‘I Am Second’ isn’t just a burgeoning marketing campaign, it was also a key component of Friday night’s game between Plano Senior and Wylie.

The Wildcats dominated the second quarter in their second district game en route to securing the team’s first 8-5A victory of the season and first win of the New Year as Plano bested Wylie, 58-42.

But while the victory took place Friday, the seeds for it may have been planted the last time Plano was on its home court.

“I think our last game, against South Grand Prairie, was where we really started to turn it around,” said Ryan McDuff, Plano senior. “This was a huge win for us and I look at it as the second building block.”

The Wildcats held a 1-point lead going into the second, which the Pirates quickly high-jacked with the first basket of the quarter. Plano junior David Thompson tied the game at 16-16 with a pretty jump stop bucket and the Wildcats wouldn’t trail the rest of the evening.

The score stood at 18-17 before Plano blew things open with a 15-3 run to end the half. The spurt got started when McDuff, who had eight points, grabbed a rebound and hurled an outlet pass to senior Rex Burkhead for a lay-in. Antwan Scott pulled Wylie back to within two points at 22-20 but that was quickly followed by another McDuff to Burkhead connection.

Plano was able to establish its growing lead thanks to its interior defense.

“Our defense was definitely key tonight,” McDuff said. “And it helped that Wylie had an off shooting night.”

The Wildcats collapsed on the ball anytime it went inside and forced the Pirates into many a rushed shot. The ensuing Wylie misses paid dividends on the other end of the court as Plano dominated the transition game in the second quarter.

“We have good size and I think we really took advantage of that on defense,” said Phil Parlin, Plano head coach. “We love playing up tempo and it takes good defense and rebounding to set that up.”

Wylie didn’t do itself any favors either as the Pirates had the last possession of both the first and second quarters yet didn’t manage to get a shot off either time. Plano took a 29-20 lead with 2:06 when junior Brandon Bailey, who had a team-high seven rebounds, sank a three. The Wildcats would score the final four points of the half and held a 33-20 advantage at the break.

The first quarter indicated a much closer game was in store as there were two ties and five lead changes in the opening eight minutes alone. The last of those lead changes came when sophomore Clayton Parlin buried a three-pointer with 16 seconds remaining to give Plano a 14-13 edge.

The Wildcats advantage could have been larger but the team struggled getting into an offensive flow early and had three missed lay-ins or putbacks during the opening frame.

That wouldn’t be a problem in the third quarter as Plano picked up where it left off in the first half. The Wildcats scored the first seven points of the period with a trifecta by McDuff doubling the Pirates up at 40-20.

Wylie broke what had now become a 22-3 Plano run with a free throw followed by a basket from a cutting Cedric Clark, who would add a dunk shortly thereafter. Sloppy play was the order of the day for the remainder of the third quarter as the Wildcats remained in front heading to the fourth, 45-28.

Plano established its largest lead of the game, 49-28, early in the final frame as back-to-back baskets from Burkhead, who had 18 points and five rebounds, and sophomore Rashad Smith, who followed with a block, meant another strong quarter start for the Wildcats. Smith had six points and five boards while Plano senior Tommy Davies had eight points in the eventual 58-42 win.

“We came into this game knowing that you have to defend your home court,” Parlin said. “Especially against a team like Wylie that is going to be in the playoff mix.”

Plano returns to the court Tuesday on the road against presumptive district favorite Plano West.