Cats reach milestone; ready for next year

Members of the varsity Wildcat basketball team include (left to right) Nick Kunzman, Mitch Marquis, Blake Anglin, Bart Henderson, Tanner Fedell, Cade Clark, Jacob Holmen, Kody Molloy, Kyle Ford, Brady Attaway, Seth Cashion and Justin Mayfield.

The 2007-2008 Wildcat basketball team had the UILboys state basketball tournament set in its sights, only to be derailed by the three-time defending state Class AAAA Champion South Oak Cliff by a score of 53-49 last Friday in the Garland Special Events Center.

Participating in the Regional Tournament, a first since WHS moved into class AAAA back in 1985, the Wildcats have already begun preparation for next years season.

A widely known fact: Whitehouse basketball doesn't rebuild, it just reloads. Some examples of this are as follows:

-- Whitehouse boys basketball teams have now recorded 20 winning seasons in a row.

-- Whitehouse boys varsity basketball teams have now won 35 consecutive district games and have won 31 home games in a row in Wildcat Arena.

-- Whitehouse boys basketball teams have now won two straight District 12- AAAA championships, have advanced to the Area round of the state playoffs for five straight seasons, and participated in the state playoffs nine of the last 10 seasons, and 17 of the past 21 hoop campaigns.

Dawkins and staff take to the court in Garland.

Next year should be no different as Head Coach Wally Dawkins, who has now recorded 559 wins against 234 losses in 27 years as a head coach, welcomes back leading scorer Jacob Holmen (a 6'8 post), starting point guard Mitch Marquis, and back-up guard Blake Anglin. The Cats will also get a much-needed boost from a pair of long and tall cat-quick freshmen in Trey Metoyer and Quincy Aldridge. The duo, who stand 6'2 and possess skill and ability beyond their years, had Wildcat fans excited as both contributed in the playoff run to the Regional Tournament.

Dawkins will also have a pair of 6'6 post men in sophomore transfers Luke and John Clardy, who became Wildcats back in November after moving to Whitehouse from Nacogdoches. These players, along with Justin Keller, Judd Jackson and Drew Flynn off a JV team coached by Jason Shuck that went 24-2 on the season, are poised to take over for some talented departing seniors.

Photos/Jim Jackson Seniors Cade Clark, Kyle Ford and Kody Molloy have all played a big part in the Wildcats run to the Regional Tournament, as well as the program's overall success. Above, Clark looks for a baseline opening. At right, Ford soars over the defense. Molloy (far right) uses his height to get a tough shot off.

That promise should allow Wildcat fans to recover from the recent defeat to SOC and turn to anticipation of next year.

"With Mitch and Jacob back, we have the nucleus of a strong team for 2008-09," said Dawkins. "We expect and have already begun work ... to get back to the Regional

Tournament and possibly go beyond. I can

+ assure you, we will be ready to make another

run at the State Tournament."

The Cats have gone 60-4 the past two seasons and are 215-42 for the decade. Get ready Wildcat fans, as the Cats are preparing to storm back next year in hopes of going the distance in 2008-2009.

ROAD TO THE REGIONAL TOURNAMENT

11-13	def. Irving	79-60
11-20	def. Longview	84-24
11-23	def. Dallas Skyline	62-55
11-30	loss Bossier City	56-58
12-4	def. John Tyler	78-53
Abilene Tournament 12/6-8
def. Brownwood		66-38
def. San Angelo Lakeview		69-39
def. Abilene Wylie		64-54
def. Jim Ned		48-39
12-11	def. Sulphur Sprgs. 73-30
12-14	def. Midlothian	63-38
12-18	def. Kilgore*	73-35
12-21	def. Jacksonville*	53-48
	TJC Tournament
def. San Antonio Heights		63-48
def. Bullard		65-45
def. Jacksonville		70-45
1-4	def. Pine Tree*	60-43

1-8	def. Hallsville*	72-34
1-11	def. Henderson*	87-41
1-15	def. Marshall*	96-67
1-18	def. Nacogdoches*	65-51
1-22	def. Kilgore*	68-31
1-25	def. Jacksonville*	70-47
1-29	def. Pine Tree*	70-44
2-1	def. Hallsville*	83-56
2-5	def. Henderson*	68-21
2-8	def. Marshall*	105-40
2-12	def. Nacogdoches*	55-44

Playoffs
Bi-district bye
2-22 def. Terrell 69-60
Area Champs
2-26 def. Richardson P. 69-48
Regional Quarterfinals
2-29 loss S. Oak Cliff 49-53
Regional Tournament first round
Season record: 29-2.