Just beat West Brook and earn a head-to-head at the district title. That was Port Arthur Memorial’s goal Friday night.
Mission not accomplished.
West Brook finished a difficult season on a high note, stunning host Memorial 68-56. A North Shore win at La Porte would end the Titans’ hopes of the District 21-6A championship in coach Kenneth Coleman’s first year at the helm. North Shore hosts Memorial on Tuesday to finish the regular season.
“We just didn’t play with enough energy,” Coleman said, after his team dropped its second straight following a six-game winning string. “We missed [24] free throws, and we were 1 for 20 from the three-point line. Our kids, we’ve got to understand we’re not going to beat teams from the three-point line. We’ve got to attack. That’s the mentality we’re trying to have.”
The Bruins (7-16, 4-8 in 21-6A) were in little mood to celebrate afterward.
The game was paused 16 minutes after West Brook junior forward Aaron Brown fell straight down on his back after being undercut on a drive to the basket with 3:32 left in the game. A flagrant foul was called, and the Bruins made 1 of 2 free throws. Brown was carted off the floor, and head coach Sam Simon left the game to be with him.
Immediately after the game ended, the West Brook varsity and sub-varsity players were rushed to their buses. The game between longtime inner-county rivals didn’t seem to get too chippy toward the end, although West Brook’s Robert Lester drew a technical foul before shooting an and-one free throw.
The Titans (13-13. 7-4) had a week off to recuperate from a 72-55 loss at La Porte, but they came out a little flat. The Bruins used their length to dominate in the paint and capitalize on second-chance shots to break a 14-all tie and build a 27-18 halftime lead.
“We fell back to some bad habits at bad times,” Coleman said. “For whatever reason, we haven’t played well lately from behind.”
Memorial did make a charge and shot 11 of 17 in foul shots to claw within 41-40, but West Brook matched the Titans’ scheme and took advantage of the foul line to build a 47-42 lead at period’s end. That’s as close as the home team would come.
Brown, who finished with four points, gave the Bruins a highlight reel with a thunderous right-hand slam off a missed three-point shot with 3:48 left.
TCU football signee Innis Gaines scored 25 points and senior classmates Lester and Keith Corbin, headed to play football at Houston, each had 11 in their final high school basketball game.
Thailan Wesley led Memorial with 16 points. Deon Williams and Tyryn Hinton added 10 apiece.