Most basketball seasons, Bandera High School’s Bulldogs are an afterthought.
It is not for a lack of talent nor coaching. Athletes abound and their staff have always been solid, but third year coach Brady Keane and his staff are up-andcomers. Perhaps that’s why this season is different. The Bulldogs (1613 overall, 4-2 district) are legitimate difference- makers in district play and brought their A-game to the Wimberley High School Texans (20-6, 4-1) last Tuesday, Jan. 24 with eyes firmly planted on second place district seeding.
The Texans got off to a sluggish start, giving up the first seven points in the opening quarter. After a free throw from Miles Schleder, Thomas Watson made a steal followed by a momentum turning layup. The Texans came roaring back to tie the game, going ahead for a short time before the period ended with the Bulldogs leading 13-10.
Coach Mike Whitten reflected on the first quarter start.
“I thought we came out a little flat,” he said. “They’re fighting us for co-ownership of second place so I think they were inspired to take it to us, to beat us early and avoid falling further in the standings. Almost like they had a lot more to play for.”
The Texans came out in the second quarter seemingly determined to bring the game back into balance. Defensive pressure led to turnovers, transition points and extra possessions, allowing the home team to take a 31-30 lead into halftime. That pressure and poise widened the lead in the third quarter, making Bandera push harder and take them out of their previous successful strategy.
“As the game went on we were wearing them down a little bit. I think we started getting some turnovers causing them to shoot some quick shots they didn’t necessarily want to take,” said Whitten. “We finally kind of turned it on a little bit and started executing down the stretch, especially in the third and fourth quarter.”
Coming out of the third quarter with a single digit 48-39 lead, the Texans pushed their size advantage, outscoring the Bulldogs 15-8 in the final period. Whitten’s inside players scored twenty in the game including nine from Colin Fisher-Swan, six from both Dane Hennessee and Gavin Olmer with five. Olmer had more playing time than his normal rotation due to foul trouble for both Fisher-Swan and Hennessee, seizing momentum at a crucial moment by taking a charge on Bandera’s end of the court.
“We’ve got good defense underneath with Colin more of a contesting shot blocker and the same with Dane keeping the lane clear. In the past, we’ve had guys like Robby Richter that could come set and take a charge. It’s a different style of defense and Gavin brings that style to the team,” shared Whitten. “Gavin knows his role and did an incredible job tonight. The charge he took was huge.”
Miles Schleder and Luke Watts led Texan scoring with 18 and 14 points respectively, and Thomas Watson had six points from the guard spot.
The Texans notched twenty-nine rebounds led by Hennessee (7) and Schleder (6) with Olmer pulling down five.
“We played good knowing that over the course of the game we had the advantage and would be able to stretch it out over time. They came out strong early,” said Whitten. “I definitely think they played harder and a little more poised than they were earlier in the season.”
The Texans would experience “out of the frying pan and into the fire” on Friday, Jan. 27 in Boerne, taking on the district-leading Boerne High School Greyhounds who rank fifth in 4A..
The contest was tight throughout. Even with significant runs by the home team, the Texans maintained their calm and forged back. They trailed by only three at the end of the first quarter and sustained that close measure into the half, trailing 20-26.
Coach Whitten was complimentary of the Texans’ effort in the first half.
“The guys played hard and were competitive,” he said. “We missed a few shots and they’d go on a run to jump ahead but our guys never quit. We stepped up the defense and would get back into it. It was an exciting game and finishing the third quarter down by two gave us confidence. We just got into foul trouble late and they started to hit shots to pull away.”
The Texans won the third quarter 17-13 and started the fourth with momentum. Boerne came out hot at a time the Texans went cold with multiple possessions yielding no points. Once the Greyhounds started to pull away, Whitten and his team altered strategy by putting Boerne on the free throw line to try to gain control of the ball. Boerne responded by hitting 67% of those free throws, extending their lead and making the final score 63-44.
Hennessee led Texan scoring with 12, followed closely by Schleder who had 11 — including three three-pointers — then Watson with eight and Watts adding seven points with five assists. Watson also hauled down a team-leading seven rebounds, and Fisher-Swan collected six..
“The guys had a good attitude and know they can play with this team,” shared Whitten. “We’re still confident — I know I am — about where we are and where we’re headed. We walked out of there with a goal to get another shot at them which would be about the third round of the playoffs.”
The Texans were off Tuesday, Jan. 31 and host the Navarro High School Panthers on Friday, Feb. 3 at 6:30 p.m. They take the bus ride down the Backbone Tuesday, Feb. 7 to play at Canyon Lake High School at 6:30 p.m.
