Players from the 2023-24 Class 6A state champion Plano East boys basketball team smile as they are being recognized for their 40-0 season during halftime of a District 6-6A game against McKinney on Tuesday, Dec. 31. Photo by Maddie Smith / C&S Media
By David Wolman
The emotions of watching the Class 6A state championship banner being unveiled in Archie McAfee Gymnasium may have not been felt by Panthers head coach Matt Wester as much as compared to other spectators who watched the ceremony.
“I already had the banner sitting inside my house for a few days,” he said. “Other people who were here today may have gotten a little more emotional about it than I did. But the hair on my arms still rises when I see it, still gives me goosebumps.”
The banner listed the names and pictures of all the players from the 2023-24 team that went 40-0 and won the first-ever team championship in school history. Wester gave a short speech about the accomplishment prior to tip-off of a Tuesday, Dec. 31, District 6-6A home game versus McKinney, and the players and coaches from that state-winning team were recognized at halftime.
A day of celebration for the defending 6A state champions was capped off with Plano East earning a 48-39 victory over McKinney.
The Panthers raced out to a 7-0 lead just three minutes into the game on the power of a DJ Hall putback, a Kojo Daniel 3-pointer and two free throws by Alex Brewington.
Hall made timely baskets throughout the game as part of a 20-point performance.
McKinney countered with a patient offensive attack that thrived on making 3-pointers and cuts to the basket.
The Lions rallied to within 11-7 at the end of the first quarter after Jaylen Dabney layup and 11-10 following a Jayce Griffin 3-pointer in the opening minute of the second quarter.
“Last year’s team had to grind out a lot of wins in district play,” Wester said. “These guys are too. McKinney likes to slow the ball down and that can be frustrating. They’ve got some guys who can make shots. I was glad to see our zone defense keep them off the rim. When we were in man, we got hit on the offensive boards. I was glad to see the guys stick with it and find a way.”
It remained a nip-and-tuck affair until the closing seconds of the third quarter.
Trailing 30-27, McKinney held the ball for the final shot, but Plano East senior Izan Qazi created a steal and finished the play with a dunk to give the Panthers a 32-27 lead.
Plano East parlayed the momentum of Qazi’s steal and dunk into a 16-12 fourth quarter run by the Panthers.
Qazi finished another dunk following an RJ Robinson steal to give Plano East a 42-39 lead with 4:07 left in the game.
“He did a good job,” Wester said. “I told him to look for some things when he was playing defense, and he got a dunk out of it. It’s always a highlight show when he can get to the rim.”
The Panthers (16-3 overall, 4-1 district) also benefitted from great all-around play from Luke Wasemiller.
He assisted on a layup by Hall in the first quarter and a Hall jumper in the second quarter. But his best play of the afternoon came in the fourth quarter. Hall handed the ball off to Wasemiller, and Wasemiller dribbled the ball through an open space in the middle of the court to the basket for a layup and a 48-33 Plano East lead with 1:28 left.
“They believe that they can win,” Wester said. “That’s their expectation. Losing is not an option. Going into the fourth quarter, they felt that they could win.”
Wasemiller finished with six points, all coming in the second half.
“Jayden (Parker), all season, has guarded the other team’s best player,” Wester said. “Ever since he went down with an injury, Luke has had to fill that role. With DJ, Izan and Moustafa (Abualneel), those guys can score a lot of points. Sometimes, people like Luke don’t have the opportunity to score as much. They distribute and play defense. He’s done a really great job.”
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