11/13/2005
By BRIAN PORTER , Staff writer

PLANO - The Plano ISD basketball season will hit full stride Tuesday as each varsity team will open its season. The girls varsity basketball season opened last week. Plano enters the season with a No. 18 ranking in the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches' Class 5A state poll.

Expectations are at an all-time high for the three boys basketball teams. The Plano ISD swept the playoff spots from District 8-5A last season, edging Allen and Flower Mound Marcus out of the playoffs.

Plano enters the season with a No. 18 ranking in the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches' Class 5A state poll. Plano East and Plano West are unranked.

Plano East led District 8-5A with a 27-5 overall record in the regular season and finished 13-1 to claim consecutive District 8-5A championship.

The Panthers return without its two leading scorers. Dallas Hunter (TCU) and Anthony Smith (Liberty University) were the key components of consecutive district titles. Doug Bleadorn takes over full-time head coaching responsibilities following the retirement of coach Steve Adair. Bleadorn, who had served both as an assistant to Adair and an interim head coach during the past two seasons, was selected in a search to take full-time head coaching duties.

Among the most improved players in the Metrocrest summer league were Plano East's Anthony Hill and Cola Alade.

Dating to the 2001-02 season, each Plano school has either won or share the district championship. It could be Plano's season again during the 2005-06 campaign.

The Wildcats compiled a 9-5 record last season, turning in another playoff appearance. The team returns mostly in tact.

Joseph Fulce (Texas A&M) and Eric Zastoupil (Army) signed college athletic Letters of Intent Wednesday. Zastoupil awaits his military appointment to West Point. Lawrence Mann is expected to sign in the late period.

Brandon Ware and Travis Vance are the two key losses from the 2004-05 team. Plano has a Florida move-in and a transfer from Plano West poised to fill the gap. Rex Burkhead and Nate Christian will also add to the team's depth.

Plano West vaulted into the playoff picture with a late surge last season. The Wolves finished the regular season just five games over .500, but turned in a 10-4 district record to edge Plano for second place in the alignment.

Plano West had 10 juniors and two sophomores on a young roster last season. Jerrald Bonham, Greg Dreiling and Sterling Melville and provide height at the forward position.