Plano East, Plano West, Plano play area-round basketball games today

01:02 AM CST on Friday, February 25, 2005
By MONIQUE WALKER / The Dallas Morning News

PLANO – The Plano East, Plano West and Plano boys basketball teams have reached the playoffs in the same season for the first time.

But it's no surprise to Plano East coach Steve Adair, who is retiring at the end of the season.

"Overall, year in and year out, we're going to have good kids and good players, and this year I think we had a few extra good players," Adair said.

The schools qualified by finishing 1-2-3 in District 8-5A and will play tonight in the Class 5A Region II area round.

The three teams include four players who have signed with or committed to Division I colleges. Plano East guard Dallas Hunter signed with TCU and guard Anthony Smith signed with Liberty University. Plano West forward Michael Prince signed with Texas Tech. Plano junior Joseph Fulce committed to Texas A&M.

Plano coach Tom Inman said the players who have been noticed by Division I scouts are talented, but the programs have succeeded with the help of their teammates.

Each team had its own struggle.

For Plano, it was battling illness and losing three of four district games. For Plano East, it was staying focused while remaining concerned for Adair, who was recovering from surgeries associated with colon cancer. And for Plano West, it was bouncing back from a slow start under a new offense.

The tough district competition also prepared the teams for the first round. Plano East earned a bye as the district champion, but Plano and Plano West each had a competitive opener.

Plano West defeated Duncanville, 70-68, in overtime – avenging a 30-point loss.

Plano beat Arlington Bowie, 52-44, using a 19-point fourth quarter to pull away for the win.

Plano ISD assistant athletic director Stan Hicks said the accomplishment is special for the district. Hicks coached Plano from 1984 to 1999.

"We are very fortunate right now to have three excellent teams," Hicks said. "I don't know many districts that can say all of their schools are still in it. I think we should be thankful for the moment."