December 30, 2006
By KEVIN HAGELAND Staff Writer / Plano Star

PLANO - As Plano gears up for a run at another state title, the 2005-06 State Champion team members and their predecessors will return to their home court Jan. 2 for Alumni Night.

Plano basketball alumni will be welcomed home mid-court during half-time of the home game versus the Lake Highlands Wildcats, which is set to tip-off at 7:30 p.m.

“A lot of our older players would like a chance to stay involved in Wildcats basketball and share our state championship with all those who came before them,” Plano head coach Tom Inman said.” Any ex-players are invited to attend.” Anna Mann, president of the Plano Boys Basketball Booster Club concurred with Inman’s statement. “We have Alumni Night to invite former players and present them to our fans and team,” she said. “During the announcement, we share where they are attending school; and if not in school, what they are doing now, what years they were a part of the team and what year they graduated. Obviously, we hope that all of the former players attend.”

This year, in addition to watching her son, Anteus, play for the Wildcats, Mrs. Mann will be there to see her older son, Lawrence, return for the first Alumni Night since his team won the state championship last spring.

Plano is expecting a record crowd, as this is the first Alumni Night since the Wildcats captured the Class 5A State Championship with their 60-58 victory over then-reigning state champion Humble Kingwood.

Members of last year’s team such as: Mann, along with Eric Zastoupil, Tyler Roof, Cody Jones, and Chris Hsaio are expected to attend.

Joseph Fulce, who is currently home during winter break from Massanutten Military Academy, will be unable to attend, as he is returning to Virginia on Tuesday to prepare for a basketball tournament. Fulce said his heart, though, will be at the game.

“Alumni Night is great,” Fulce said. It brings the Plano family together. We are all family, regardless of when you graduated. Having everyone come out and see the team play brings us all together. It’s a great tradition and I wish I could make it on Tuesday, but I will be at the Wildcat Classic and at every other game I can be at.”

Attendees Tuesday evening at Plano can also look forward to a physical game against Lake Highlands, as both teams enter 2007 with a 1-0 record in District 9-5A play.

Plano, which has an overall record of 11-3, grabbed its first district win Friday with a 92-83 double-overtime victory over Allen. Lake Highlands’ heads into the contest sporting a mark of 11-5.

Fans attending the game will also be treated to high-scoring senior John Roberson, who is currently rated as one of the top two points guards in Texas and has already signed on with Texas Tech.

If those festivities aren’t enough, the Booster Club will be silently auctioning a basketball autographed by all 2006-07 varsity team members.

Basketball alumni may register for the alumni event by emailing Gwen Baumann at: gbaumann@joimail.com or Shubha Ramakrishnan at: armsh347@comcast.net. Interested alums may also check in at the ticket entrance table on Tuesday.