February 23, 2007

By DAMON L. SAYLES / The Dallas Morning News

GARLAND - In a playoff game featuring two of the area's top basketball recruits, the elevated – and somewhat unexpected – play of a sophomore was the talk of the Garland Lakeview gym.

Even Plano's Rex Burkhead had to admit that Friday's 59-56 Class 5A Region II area-round win against Carter was one of his finest basketball moments. The sophomore, who has garnered attention on the football field, had 21 points and six rebounds as defending state champion Plano advanced to the regional quarterfinals.

Burkhead's performance outshined the anticipated clash of two of the area's top guards: Houston signee Brockeith Pane of Carter and Texas Tech signee John Roberson of Plano.

"They were double- and triple-teaming John, and I was just cutting to the basket," said Burkhead, who scored 15 points in the first half. "You give him time, and he'll find you every time."

Carter's stingy defense, paced by Terrance Square, made Roberson work for every one of his 16 points. Roberson was held to four first-half points and was quick to give credit to Burkhead.

"Without him, we don't get this win, period," Roberson said. "He rebounded, he scored, he played 'D.' He stepped up and did it all."

Plano coach Tom Inman piled on the praise for Burkhead.

"When we needed him most, he was composed and poised," Inman said. "He was awesome [Friday]. He's a complete freak of nature."

Pane led all scorers with 31 points. But with time running down, he missed a 3-pointer that would have tied the score. Plano's Nate Christian grabbed the rebound to seal the victory.

Carter (19-13) led by as many as 12 early and took a 19-8 first-quarter advantage, but Plano rallied in the second and pulled within five by halftime. Plano (26-7) tied the game three times in the third quarter, and the score was knotted at 44 entering the fourth.

Plano took its first lead since the first quarter, 46-44, on a Roberson floater to open the final period. Plano took the lead for good at the five-minute mark when Phillip Bailey made a free throw to give the team a 53-52 advantage.

"What a heck of a duel," Inman said. "No one played poorly, and no team can say, 'I made a play that cost us the game.' We were just fortunate to be on top in the end."