Cats plan warm-up in Houston

Photo/Jim Jackson Jacob Holmen goes strong to the basket in the Wildcat's 105-40 trouncing of Marshall on the Cats senior night. See related photos page 2B.

In an effort to create a "playoff atmosphere" versus a playoff quality opponent, the #3 Whitehouse Wildcats will put their 26-1 record on the line Saturday night in Houston.

The Cats will face perennial power Houston Wheatley Saturday night at 8 p.m. at Forrest Brook High School in Houston as part of a four-game set of some of the state's best teams.

Head coach Wally Dawkins says his Wildcats better get used to this type of environment and in a hurry.

"Houston Wheatley will be big, quick, very athletic, and very good," Dawkins said, "just like the teams we will face in the Dallas region. We are going to get our feet put to the fire quickly down there, and I can assure you, those Houston fans will be on us when we get off the bus."

The Wildcats will use the match-up against Wheatley to ready themselves for teams like South Oak Cliff, Dallas Lincoln and Dallas Kimball, to name a few.

"It will be a great experience for our kids, to go down there and face a great team like Wheatley in a tough place. So we are excited they invited us," said Dawkins. "It also means that we have the reputation of being one of the state's best which is a credit to our kids."