Wolverines take HSAA to school

Your Wakeland Wolverines got back to .500 this past Monday during a matinee game with the Blue Angels of the Home School Athletic Association. Wakeland defeated HSAA by a score of 70-52. The Wolverines jumped out on the Blue Angels 13-7 by the end of the first quarter, and extended that lead to as much as 9 points, but a half court buzzer beater cut Wakeland's lead to just six by half. Both teams stale mated in the third with the Wolverines still leading by six leading into the final quarter of play. However, the Wolverines exploded in the fourth quarter by scoring 27 points and pushing their lead to 18 points by the final buzzer. Noah Westerfield led the Wolverines with 12 points while Anthony Grayson added 11 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 steals. Jimmy Wilkins and Sean Antonelli both cleaned the glass with 7 boards a piece. Sean Watkins added 6 assists. Head Coach Brent Benningfield mentioned in a post-game press conference, "It was good to see our guys get a win over a quality opponent even though we were a little rusty, we've just had a few practices since the start of the winter break!" The win brings Wakeland's record to 8-8 as they will look to continue their winning streak on the road against The Colony on Friday night as they resume district play. The JV plays at 5pm, the 9th at 6:30, and the Varsity at 8pm. Go orange and blue!

Photos by Ms. Hernandez

Wolverines win clash with Titans

Your Wakeland Wolverines got their first District win this past Friday night over the Titans of Centennial by a score of 45-34. The Wolverines showed no mercy as they jumped out to 19-11 lead by the end of the first quarter due to Sean Watkins hot hand beyond the arc. However, the scoring balanced out in the second quarter with the Wolverines only scoring 5 points and the Titans were able to pull within 6 points by half. Wakeland's defensive pressure took over in the third quarter, which helped the Wolverines pull away with easy transition lay-ups. Wakeland caused Centennial to turnover the ball over 7 times in the third quarter alone. Head JV Coach Blake Reedy commented after the game, "its a huge win for us going into the winter break..., looks like Santa brought us an early Christmas gift!" Sean Watkins led the Wolverines with 18 points, with 12 of those coming from 3pt. land. Watkins also had 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals. Jimmy Wilkins added 12 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal. Noah Westerfield was active with 7 boards, 2 assists, 1 block, and 1 steal. The wins puts Wakeland's overall record at 7-8 with a 1-1 start in district play. The Wolverines will be off the next few days for the Holiday break and then will be back in action on Monday, Dec. 30th at home against the Blues of the Home School Athletic Association. The JV will tip-off at 12:30pm, followed by the Varsity at 2pm. Go orange and blue!

Eagles nip Wolverines in district opener

It was a game that was highly touted as the best match-up of all the games in District 9-4A openers, and the Wolverines and Eagles did not disappoint the record breaking crowd. The student section for Wakeland was rocking and rolling all night and definitely gave the Wolverines a home court advantage. The game was back and forth all night, and neither team led by more than 4 points at any point of the game. The Eagles took a 22-20 lead and halftime and it remained just as close into the final seconds. The Wolverines found themselves down by three with just 11 seconds to play in the game and executed a 3pt play to guard Anthony Grayson to perfection. However, the shot rimmed in and out, and despite a tip in by fellow teammate Jimmy Wilkins, the Wolverines fell short by just one point as the final buzzer sounded, 42-41. Head Coach Brent Benningfield stated to the Frisco Courier in a post-game press conference, we definitely played well enough to win tonight, we just didn't hit the big shot we needed to down the stretch." Once again, the Wolverines struggled from beyond the arc by just shooting 21% for the game and a mere 40% from the free-throw line. Noah Westerfield led the Wolverines with 13 points while Jimmy Wilkins added 12. The loss puts Wakeland's overall record at 6-8 on the season with an 0-1 start in district play. The Wolverines will look to even their district record on Friday night as they face-off against the Titans of Centennial. The Varsity will tip-off at 8pm, and look to to get a win before the Winter Break. Go orange and blue!

Photos by Hernandez

Forney ISD Winter Classic

Game #1
Thursday, Dec. 12th at 1:30pm (North Forney HS)
Wakeland 45, Rockwall 70

Your Wakeland Wolverines dropped another game in as many days and fell below .500 for the first time this season. Another poor offensive performance from the Wolverines led to a first round loss against the Rockwall Yellowjackets in the Forney ISD Winter Classic. Wakeland went 19-64 from the floor, which is the second time this season they've shot under 30% for the game. In addition, the big story of the day, was the Wolverines going 3-26 from beyond the arc while their counterparts hit 10 "3's" during the contest. The Wolverines fell behind quickly because of a four point first quarter while the Yellowjackets couldn't miss. Noah Westerfield led the Wolverines in a losing effort with 14 points and 5 rebounds. Wakeland will face a very tough Wylie East team on Friday at noon at North Forney High School. The Wolverines will have to find their offensive fire power if they want to advance in the consolation bracket. Go orange and blue!

Game #2
Friday, Dec. 13th at 12pm (North Forney HS)
Wakeland 51, Wylie East 53

Your Wakeland Wolverines dropped their third game in a row in as many days to the Raiders of Wylie East. East raided the Wolverines pocket on many occasions, which led to easy transition buckets for the Raiders. A lack of focus and intensity were major contributors to the Wakeland loss, which gave Wylie East their first win on the season. Once again, the Wolverines struggled offensively by committing 20 turnovers, and going just 21-68 from the field. Anthony Grayson led the Wolverines in scoring with 13 points while Sean Watkins added 12 points, 7 assists, and 4 steals. The loss brings Wakeland's overall record to 5-7 on the year. The Wolverines will be back in action on Saturday morning at Forney High School to take on the Jackrabbits on their own home floor for the last game of the tournament.

Game #3
Saturday, Dec. 14th at 10am (Forney HS)
Wakeland 76, Forney 33

Your Wakeland Wolverines got back to their winning ways by defeating the Forney Jackrabbits in the last game of the Forney Winter Classic this past Saturday morning at Forney High School. The Wolverines started off hot from the field by scoring 26 points in the 1st quarter, while only allowing 4 points on the defensive end. The rout continued in the second quarter, when Wakeland poured on another 20 points, which gave them a 30 point half-time lead. The Wolverines cleared the bench multiple times to ensure a team victory after a rough 3-game stretch. Jimmy Wilkins led all scores with 17 points, while Sean Watkins and Javante McCoy both added 10 points. Isaac Burt and Michael Sullivan had 8 points a piece. The win puts Wakeland's overall record at 6-7 as they look to get back to .500 with a win over Hwy 380-rival, Prosper at home on Tuesday night. This will be the first district game of the season, so come out and be loud. JV starts at 5pm, 9th at 6:30pm, and the Varsity will tip-off at 8pm. Hope to see you there. Go Wakeland!

Wolverines go "ice cold" at Denton Guyer

Your Wakeland Wolverines dropped their fifth game of the season by losing to the Wildcats of Denton Guyer on Wednesday night by a score of 62-42. It was either the cold weather outside or the week lay-off, but whatever it was, it kept the Wolverines from scoring anywhere on the court. Wakeland found themselves down to the #2 state ranked Wildcats 22-8 at the end of the first quarter. Guyer was "red hot" beyond the arc by hitting 7 of their 10 three pointers in the opening minutes of play. Your Wolverines fought hard all the way to the end, but going 41% from the free-throw line, 17% from beyond the arc, and just 29% for the game just didn't get the job done. Freshmen Head Coach Joe Lewis mentioned, "this is a game of numbers, I firmly believe that these shooting woes WILL NOT continue!" Your Wolverines were led by Jimmy Wilkins, who tallied his third double-double of the season with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Justice Williams came off the bench to score 9 points and Sean Watkins had 4 assists, 2 blocks, and 4 steals. This brings Wakeland's overall record back to .500 at 5-5, as they travel to the Forney tournament on Thursday at 1:30pm to take on the high-octane Yellowjackets of Rockwall High. Hope to see you there. Go orange and blue!

Wolverines slay Dragons for second year in a row

Your Wakeland Wolverines got back to their winning ways this past Tuesday night by defeating the Dragons of Southlake by a score of 59 to 43. Wakeland and Carroll struggled offensively the first quarter, which was evident by the score, 10-6. However, the Wolverines found their groove and extended their lead to 5 by the end of the first half. In the third, the Dragons reigned threes, which helped them tie the game at 33 before going into the last quarter of play. During the fourth quarter, the Wolverines dominated the paint, which increased their lead to double digits and they never looked back. Head Coach Brent Benningfield commented to the Carroll Tribune-Herald, "it was fun to beat Coach Tidwell's alma matter for a second time!" Noah Westerfield led the Wolverines with 10 points and 10 rebounds, which is third double-double on the season. Justice Williams came off the bench to put in a game-high, 14 points. Sean Watkins added 4 steals and Jordan Harris dished out 4 assists. This brings Wakeland's overall record to 5-4. The Wolverines will be hibernating this weekend in preparation for the winter storm, and will be back in action on the road against #2 ranked Denton Guyer on Tuesday, Dec. 10th. Go orange and blue!

Photos by Ms. Hernandez

Wolverines split over Fall Break

Wakeland 68, McKinney 64

Your Wakeland Wolverines defended their home floor this past Monday night as they looked to tame the McKinney Lions for the second year in a row. The first quarter set the tone because it was going to be back and forth all night. Even though the Wolverines found themselves down by one after the first period of play, the Wolverines tallied 19 points in the second quarter alone to take a 34-29 lead at half. However, the Lions would not go away in the second half and roared with 20 points of their own in the third. Although the Wolverines found themselves down late in the fourth, Sean Watkins calmly led his team to victory at the final sound of the buzzer. Watkins led all scorers with 17 points. Noah Westerfield started to get his basketball legs back under him by tallying his first double-double of the season with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Michael Sullivan continued to shoot well by scoring 11 points. Coach Brent Benningfield stated after the game, "it's a good win against a team that can shoot very, very well against our aggressive 2-3 zone!" The win keeps Wakeland just above .500 with a record of 4-3. They will take their one game winning streak to the hostile confines of North Garland Raiders before they take a few days off for the Fall Break.

Photos by Ms. Hernandez

Wakeland 64, North Garland 71

On this past Tuesday, your Wakeland Wolverines took on the Raiders of North Garland on their own home floor, which proved difficult for the Wolverines all game long. The Raiders looted the glass in the first half by grabbing over 20 rebounds, mostly offensive, which led to extra possessions and buckets. Wakeland trailed the Raiders from the first quarter on and found themselves down by as much as 14 points late in the third. However, Wakeland cut the deficit to two points with just a minutes remaining, but it was a little too late for the Wolverines to overcome their first half woes. Noah Westerfield led all scorers with 18 points while Jimmy Wilkins added a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Sean Watkins was the only other Wolverine that scored in double figures with 10 points. Coach Marty Tidwell commented after the game, "the effort we showed today was eerily similar to the effort we showed Paschal last year during the holiday break, it is almost like we didn't even want to be there!" The loss brings Wakeland's overall record back to .500 at 4-4. The Wolverines will be back in action at home against Southlake Carroll on Tuesday, so come out and help us slay the Dragons for the second year in a row. Go orange and blue!  

Photos by Ms. Hernandez

Varsity Boys goes 2-2, gets 4th at Keller ISD Classic

Game #1
Wakeland 55, Birdville 47

Your Varsity Boys took their show on the road to the 1st annual Keller ISD Classic this past weekend, whose tournament boasted some of the best talent around the DFW area. The Wolverines took down Birdville in the opening round of the tournament by a score of 55-47. Javante McCoy came off the bench to hit a couple of 3's to lead all scorers with 12 points while Noah Westerfield pulled down 7 boards. 

Game #2
Wakeland 59, Irving 43

In the second round, Wakeland defeated Irving High School by a score of 59-43. The Wolverines stingy defense created offensive miscues for the Tigers all night long. Sean Watkins and Anthony Grayson both scored in double digits while Jimmy Wilkins cleaned the glass with 8 boards. 

Game #3
Wakeland 40, Trinity 45

In the semi-finals, the Wolverines loss to Euless Trinity, who boasts a 6'11 center, Myles Turner, who just happens to be one of the most highly recruited posts in the nation. Even with his dominating presence in the paint, the Wolverines went back and forth with the Trojans all the way to the end, but fell just a little bit short, 45-40. Anthony Grayson scored 8 points while Noah Westerfield and Jimmy Wilkins both pulled down 6 rebounds. 

Game #4
Wakeland 40, McKinney North 43

After a slow start in the 3rd place game, the Wolverines found themselves down 16-3 to McKinney North at the end of the first quarter. Even though they clawed their way back into the game against the Bulldogs, they fell short 43-40. Wakeland finished 2-2 for the tournament with a fourth place finish out of 32 teams. The Wolverines will be back in action at home against the Lions of McKinney High on Monday, Nov. 25th at 7:30pm. Wakeland will then travel to North Garland on Tuesday, Nov. 26th to take on the Raiders at 3:30pm before they take off a few days for the Fall Break. Hope to see you there. Go orange and blue! 

Photos by Ms. Hernandez

Wolverines let one slip away at Lone Star

Your Wakeland Wolverines tallied their first loss of the season by letting one slip away this past Tuesday night at Lone Star by a score of 73-74. Even though the Wolverines shot over 50% for the game, their inability to execute offensively at the end of the game cost them their second win of the season. From the start, Wakeland found themselves in a dog fight as both teams scored at will, which ended at a 17-17 tie by the end of the first quarter. However, the Wolverines pulled ahead midway through the second quarter, but saw their lead diminish to only three by half. In the third quarter, Wakeland showed their dominance by pushing the lead to 12 points with only a little over a minute to play. Then Lone Star's full court pressure on Wakeland guards helped closed the gap to just 5 by the end of the quarter. In the final quarter of play, Wakeland committed some costly turnovers down the stretch, and missed some crucial buckets, which sealed their fate in the closing seconds of the game. Michael Sullivan scored a career high, 14 points, while Sean Watkins added 13. Jimmy Wilkins came off the bench to put in 8 points and 9 boards, while Noah Westerfield added 10 points. Coach Marty Tidwell commented after the game, "obviously, the loss stings because its our Eldorado rival, but adversity this early in the season is to be expected and we just need to grow, mature, and not make the same silly mistakes that we did tonight down the stretch!" This puts the Wolverines at 1-1 on the season as they travel to play the Hawks of Birdville in the first round of the Timber Creek Classic on Thursday night at 6pm. The Wolverines will play at Timber Creek High School in Keller. Hope to see you there. Go orange and blue!

Photos by Ms. Hernandez

Wakeland wins opener against Wylie

Your Wakeland Wolverines started off the 2013-2014 season on a winning note this past Friday night by defeating the Pirates of Wylie by a score of 57-48. Even though the Wolverines struggled shooting from beyond the arc, their stingy defense led to easy transition points, which eventually overwhelmed Wylie late in the game. From the start, Wakeland found themselves trailing the Pirates 16-12 by the end of the first quarter. However, the Wolverines closed the gap to just a one point deficit by halftime. In the third quarter, it was the Sean Watkins show. Watkins scored 10 of his game-high, 16 points. In addition, his 6 steals, 2 assists, and 1 unforgettable block off the backboard catapulted the Wolverines into the lead and they never looked back. By the end of the third quarter, Wakeland found themselves up 39-34 going into the final quarter of play. Wakeland was able to ice the game by going 8-12 from the free-throw line in the last few minutes. Michael Sullivan scored 12 points, while new kid on the block, Anthony Grayson scored 9 points and grabbed 7 rebounds. Sean Antonelli came off the bench to clean up the glass with 14 rebounds in the game. Coach Brent Benningfield stated on Mr. Clean, "it was great to see Sean Antonelli control the boards the way he did, that kid has put in a lot of work in the off-season." This puts the Wolverines at 1-0 on the season as they travel to play Eldorado rivals, the Lone Star Rangers on Tuesday night at 7:30pm. Hope to see you there. Go orange and blue!

A huge "Thank You" to Ms. Hernandez for taking hundreds of pictures of all of the players during all the action. Feel free to copy/paste whatever you'd like.

Photos by Ms. Hernandez

Gary Burns Fun Run

In the spirit of tradition and giving back to our community, our basketball team participated in the 14th annual Frisco Education Foundation Gary Burns Frisco Fun Run at TOYOTA STADIUM (formerly FC Dallas Stadium) this past Saturday, October 26th.

We look forward to this event each year and encourage all students to join us in supporting the students and staff of FISD through the run.

The Frisco Education Foundation provides financial resources to maximize student potential in the Frisco Independent School District through educational programs, student college scholarships, and grants for innovative FISD educators.

Awards for the highest school participation went to Wakeland, Fowler and Fisher.

FISD staff team awards went to Taylor, first place; Anderson, second place and Carroll RCC Track Club, third place.

Student team awards went to Wakeland cross country, first place; Wakeland boys soccer, second place and Liberty cross country, third place.

Elementary spirit awards went to Fisher, first place; Bledsoe, second place and Carroll, third place.

Secondary spirit awards went to the Frisco High wresting team, first place; Griffin Girls Athletics, second place and Pioneer Heritage Girls Athletics, third place.

First place for civic participation went to Sem Hot Feet, a mixed team of parents, students and staff.

A huge THANK YOU to everyone for their participation in making this another success. We will see you again next year!

Results
Photos by Ms. Hernandez

I thought this was supposed to be FUN!

Wolverines take on Stony Ranch

Your Wakeland Wolverines took on a challenge like no other this past weekend as they stared some of their biggest fears in the face. Some of the biggest, baddest, and even the smoothest of Wolverine talkers had moments that humbled them this past Saturday at the Ropes Challenge Course at Stony Ranch in the small town of Ponder, Tx. It was a course that made the Wolverines use their communication and cooperation skills to achieve success as a team at each challenge. The moments we shared during these challenges will definitely last a life time!

A HUGE THANK YOU to MS. HERNANDEZ for taking the time out of her Saturday to take 100's of pictures of the boys. Please feel free to copy/paste whatever you'd like.

Photos by Ms. Hernandez

Dang it, it's further than I thought! 

Congratulations to the following Wolverines!

Attached is the District 9-4A selections for the 2012-2013 basketball season. Congratulations to the following Wolverines who earned the follwoing accolades.

Josh Harris - Sr. - 1st Team, All-Defensive Team

Cameron Walker - Sr. - 1st Team

Noah Westerfield - Jr. - 2nd Team

Sean Watkins - Jr. - 2nd Team

Zol Singleton - Sr. - Honorable Mention

Coaching Staff of the Year - Little Elm and Wakeland

West Mesquite wrangles Wakeland for Bi-District Title

Your Wakeland Wolverines fell just a little bit short this past Tuesday night during their Bi-District Championship game at Hebron High School versus the Wranglers of West Mesquite by a score of 68 to 66. With only 33 seconds remaining in the game, the Wolverines found themselves down by 7, but they weren't out yet. They scratched and clawed their way back into the game by some strategic defensive stops and methodical offensive exectution and with only 1 left second left on the clock, Wakeland was just down by 2. Josh Harris hurled an inbounds pass the full length of the court as Noah Westerfield jumped and wrestled it away from a Wrangler defender. He twisted his body and heaved a last second shot just inside the arc that rimmed in and out. As the ball fell to the floor and the final buzzer sounded, you could feel the deflation in the air when every Wolverine realized the season was over. In a game that saw just about every twist and turn throughout its entirety, it was a game that was played hard by both teams, which made it hard to see one of the teams go home without the "gold ball." The Wolverines were led by Noah Westerfield and Cameron Walker with 14 points a piece. Zol Singleton added 13 points while Josh Harris put in 10. The loss brings Wakeland's season to an end, but the Wolverines have nothing to be a shamed of with a final record of 23 wins and 8 losses, along with a third place finish in one of the toughest districts in the DFW area. Head Coach Brent Benningfield commented, "I'm sad to the season come to a close, not because of the loss, but because I won't get a chance to coach these Seniors anymore..., they were a great group of kids, and we wish them the best in their future endeavors!" Wakeland will graduate six seniors in May: Justin Nicholas, Josh Harris, Zol Singleton, Doriel Yeager, Cameron Walker, and last but not least, the best Manager you could ever ask for, Brian Spinella. While some will pursue athletic promise next year at the Collegiate level, and others academic excellence, no matter what they choose to do, we know they will be successful. And for those Wolverines coming back next year, get ready to hit the weights in the off-season because we're looking for "MORE in '14", go orange and blue!

Perennial Playoff Participants

Since the first Wakeland boys basketball team entered the gymnasium seven years ago, coach Brent Benningfield  has seen five of his seven teams qualify for the state basketball playoffs, “and the other two years, our chance was missed in the final game of the season,” Benningfield lamented.

The 2013 edition of the team locked up their spot in the final game of the season with a dramatic two-point victory over Frisco Heritage this week. At no time has the title of “Senior Night” been more aprapros than during this hotly contested event. Heritage was led by their sterling underclassmen, only to have their efforts bested by Waleland seniors Zol Singleton, Cam Walker and Josh Harris, with a huge assist from fellow senior Justin Nicholas.

Singleton poured in 19 points, Walker was right on his tail with 17 and Harris chipped a very tough 14, but they were all overshadowed by the two from Nicholas. In a tremendous show of good sportsmanship, Heritage allowed Wakeland to control the opening tip and pitch the ball ahead to Justin, participating in his first game since being diagnosed with cancer on December 21, so he could get in a box score and play with his teammates one last time.

After Heritage was allowed to tie the game with an uncontested lay-up, the game never tilted too much to either side. Wakeland lead by three after one quarter, but Heritage tied up the game going into the half. Wakeland had a one-point advantage going into the fourth quarter and needed every bit of that slight edge. Clutch shots from the youngsters at Heritage seemed to mean that the it was the dawn of new day, but a clutch three-pointer from Wakeland’s Singleton preserved the win for the home team. Heritage had one final desparate drive to the basket, but a slip up caused the ball to float harmlessly out of bounds as the clock ran out.

Wakeland moves on to the playoffs and will face West Mequite at Hebron High School for the chance at obtaining the Wolverines fifth bi-district title. Game time is 7:00 PM.    

Click here for the Fox 4 News Special on Justin
Click here for the Ch. 5 News Special on Justin
Click here for the Ch. 8 High School Sports Special

Raccoons pester Wolverines

Your Wakeland Wolverines dropped another crucial game this past Friday night to the Frisco Raccoons by a score of 53-43. Wakeland shot a record low 17% from the floor for the entire night by going 11-66. They were 8-47 from inside the arc and 3-19 from outside the arc. The cold front definitely blew in early on Friday night as Wakeland could not buy a bucket. When the Wolverines only scored one bucket in the first quarter, they found themselves down 15-3, then 31-14 by half on the account of some Wakeland free-throws. Even though the Wolverines scatched and clawed their way back into the game with some full court pressure, it was a little too late as the Raccoons were able to ice the game at the line. Head Coach Brent Benningfield stated to the Frisco Enterprise, "I've seen one or two players have an off night shooting the ball, but to see an entire team off like that..., I haven't seen that in my 17 years of coaching." Noah Westerfield led the Wolverines by acquiring his third double-double of the year with 14 points and 13 rebounds. Josh Harris added 11 while Sean Watkins picked the Raccoon's pocket 5 times. Even though its only the Wolverines seventh loss on the season, it was a big one because now they face a must win situation against El Dorado rivals, the Coyotes of Heritage on Tuesday night. It will be Parent/Senior Recognition night, so get there early to reserve a seat, so you can watch: Josh Harris, Cameron Walker, Doriel Yeager, Zol Singleton, and Justin Nicholas play their last home game as a Wolverine. Tip-off is at 8pm, go Orange and Blue!

Redhawks nest Wolverines

Your Wakeland Wolverines were defeated by the Liberty Redhawks by a score of 54-51 this past Tuesday night. This ends the 16-game winning streak the Wolverines have had over the Redhawks over a span of 7 years. Unfortunately for Wakeland, it came at a bad time because the Wolverines just needed one more win to clinch a play-off spot for the 5th time in school history. However, the inability to stop Liberty's inside presence, Wakeland just fell short on a couple of last second 3's to send the game into OT. Freshmen Coach Joe Lewis commented, "the mood just didn't feel right all night, which was disappointing because of what was on the line." Sean Watkins led the Wolverines with 15 points and 4 assists while Josh Harris added 11 points along with dishing out 5 assists. Cameron Walker grabbed 8 boards while Noah Westerfield pulled down 7 rebounds. This brings Wakeland's overall record to 22-5 with an 8-4 record in district play. The Wolverines just need to win one more game to clinch a play-off spot with two games to play. They will be at Frisco on Friday night, and home against Heritage on Tuesday, Feb. 12th for Parent/Senior Recognition night. Come out and support your Wolverines as they try to scratch and claw their way into the play-offs. Go Wakeland!

JN25

 The top two teams in district 9-4A met on the court Friday night to play a highly anticipated match in a packed gym. There was a palpable energy at Wakeland High School for the game between the Little Elm Lobos and the Wakeland Wolverines, but basketball took a back seat on this night. In its stead, the communities of Little Elm and Frisco Wakeland, with a big assist from Prosper, stepped up to help Wakeland basketball team member Justin Nicholas as he continues to battle cancer.

Prior to the contest, the Lobos presented Justin with a customized game ball and a check totaling close to five hundred dollars. In addition, Wakeland and Little Elm fans contributed thirteen hundred dollars during a “pass the hat” portion of the night. It has been said that sports can reveal true character; in this case, the characteristics of compassion and love coming from neighboring communities shone brighter than anything else.

Of course, after all the good will, there was still a game to play. And what a game it was for the home team. After a quick lay up off the jump ball for the Wolverines, Little Elm imposed their will with a few quick baskets and a bevy of tenacious defense, forcing Wakeland into poor shots and chaotic offensive rhythm. Noah Westerfield drove to the hoop for a dunk that signified the Wolverines were on a mission.

Seemingly propelled by Nicholas sitting with the team, Wakeland was at once frenetic and majestic as they hustled for every loose ball and banged for every board, while gracefully gliding to the goal for important buckets and passing perfectly as they ran out to a ten point halftime lead.

Little Elm returned to the court in the second half with renewed intensity and quickly chipped into the Wakeland lead, trailing by only six mid way through the third quarter. But Friday night was Justin Nicholas night, and Justin Nicholas night belonged to the Wolverines.

In a season first, Westerfield and his fellow starters Josh Harris, Zol Singleton, Cameron Walker and Sean Watkins all finished in double digits in scoring. Walker continued his dominance on the boards with thirteen rebounds and Sean Watkins broke his own school with thirteen assists as the Wolverines won the ball game going away by a final of 67-52.

Friday’s win, coupled with a loss from The Colony has landed the Wolverines in sole possession of second place with just three district contests remaining. Wakeland varsity assistant coach Marty Tidwell pontificated on the upcoming games. “All year long we have known that this district was going to be tougher than a two-dollar steak and that has been just the case,” Tidwell said in an exasperated state after the game on Friday.

The Wolverines will travel to Liberty on Tuesday night and try to secure a play-off spot with just three games remaining in district play. Tip-off is at 8pm, Go Wakeland!

Don Sparks Photography
Photos by DMN (1-14)

Middle School Night

JN25 Night

Wolverines capture Cougars for 7th District win

Your Wakeland Wolverines revenged a 20 point blowout last night against The Colony by defeating the Cougars 73-50 on their own home floor. The Colony rolled in the first round of district play and beat down the Wolverines by 20 points, so Wakeland returned the favor. It was a crucial win for the Wolverines because they are now tied with the Cougars for second place in the district standings. Wakeland came out hot from beyond the arc by hitting 7 of its 8 "3's" in the first half alone, thanks to Josh Harris and Zol Singleton. Even though the Wolverines were already up by double digits at the start of the 3rd, they put the pedal to the medal and ended any hopes of a Cougar comeback. When it was all said and done, Wakeland basically dominated every aspect of the game. Junior Varsity Coach Blake Reedy mentioned to The Colony Courier, "tonight was the exact opposite of what happened last game..., tonight we made the open shots, and physically abused the boards..., and they didn't!" Josh Harris led the Wolverines with 16 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists. Zol Singleton added 12, while Cameron Walker got his 10th double-double of the year with 11 points and 14 rebounds. Jackson Lamb came off the bench and put in 10 along with Noah Westerfield handing out 7 dimes. The win puts Wakeland's overall record at 21-5 and 7-3 in District 9-4A. The Wolverines will battle the Lobos of Little Elm on Friday Night, which just so happens to be Middle School night, so come out and enjoy some high-flying basketball. Go Wakeland!

Don Sparks Photography

Wakeland trips Titans for sixth District Win

Your Wakeland Wolverines did somethig this past Friday night, that they haven't done in a long time. They won in less dramatic fashion than what they are used to. I'm not sure if it was the bright lights of the cameras from Time Warner Cable or if it was the student section that shot the noise level through the roof. Whatever it was, your Wolverines were tenacious on defense and were methodical on offense as they tried to slice and dice Centennial's match-up zone. Even though the Titans found themselves up by three at the end of the first quarter, the Wolverines quickly took the lead in the second and never looked back. In a game that didn't see very many possessions, Wakeland took advantage of every opportunity, which helped them win by a score of 54-47. Halftime entertainment was provided by the Boys manager, Brian Spinella as he hurled a halfcourt shot that banked in off the glass and the crowd erupted into a 7.8 on the Richter scale. Varsity Assistant Coach Marty Tidwell responded to a question from a TWC reporter in a post-game video interview, "what we try to do is keep things real simple, a lot of coaches will say "you need to do this or you need do that..., all we say is "score more points than the other team!" Josh Harris led the Wolverines with 12 points and 3 assists while Sean Watkins added 11 points. Cameron Walker and Zol Singleton both scored 10 points. Noah Westerfield was the top rebounder of the night with 6 boards. The win puts Wakeland's overall record at 20-5 on the season with a 6-3 record in District 9-4A. The Wolverines find themselves currently in third place with just 5 games remaining. Wakeland will be back in action on Tuesday night as they will travel to The Colony for the first time in school history. Hope to see you at the game because it'll be a barn burner. Go orange and blue!

Don Sparks Photography (Varsity)

The Shot Heard Around The World

Wolverines rise above Eagles

Your Wakeland Wolverines got back to their winning ways this past Tuesday night by defeating the Eagles of Prosper by a score of 56-52. Once again, the Eagles came out hot by hitting four "3's" in the first quarter of play, which helped them jump out to a first quarter lead. However, the Wolverines came roaring back in the second quarter and never found themselves down again. Wakeland did have a few chances to pull away in the second half, but turnovers and the inability to put the ball in the basket helped the Eagles hang around to make it another nail biter until the final buzzer. Head Coach Brent Benningfield commented to KSWV 91.7 "we seem to shoot ourselves in the foot sometimes and make games closer than they really should be..., I'm just glad we were able to hang on!" Josh Harris led the Wolverines with a career high, 21 points. Cameron Walker tallied up his 9 double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds, while Noah Westerfield grabbed 11 boards and scored 7 points. The win brings Wakeland's overall record to 19-5 with a 5-3 record in District play. The Wolverines find themselves in sole possession of third place, however they must defend their home court on Friday night against the Centennial Titans if they want to keep their play-off spot in tact. JV begins at 5pm, 9th at 6:30pm, and Varsity at 8pm. Its been rumored that Time Warner Cable will be there to film the game live because this match-up has been featured as the game of the week. Stay tuned for more details, go orange and blue!

Heritage hustles Wolverines for key District win

Your Wakeland Wolverines dropped a key game in District play this past Friday night against the Coyotes of Heritage by a score of 80-63. If the Wolverines could have secured a win, they would have positioned themselves towards the top of the District ladder at the end of the first round. However, the loss still clogs the district race as Heritage, Wakeland, and Frisco are all tied for the last two play-off spots as we go into the second round. The Wolverines and Coyotes pushed the offensive pace in the first two quarters of play by trading buckets back and forth. Unfortunately, the Wolverines were outscored by 14 points in the last few minutes of play at the end of the first half, which gave the Coyotes a 10 point lead going to half. Wakeland came out in the second half and pounded it down low to tie the game by the start of the fourth quarter. At the beginning of the fourth, the Coyotes reigned supreme as they hit consecutive "3's" to go on a 12-0 run, which ultimately ended Wakeland's hopes of a road victory. Freshmen Coach Joe Lewis stuttered, "it was a game that was back and forth for the most part, but unfortunately the runs they had in the second and fourth quarter were just a little too much for us to overcome." Cameron Walker led the Wolverines with 18 points and 8 rebounds while Josh Harris added 13 points and 7 boards. Michael Sullivan came off the bench and hit three "3's" for 9 points on the evening. Wakeland's overall record drops to 18-5 with a 4-3 record in District 9-4A after the first round of play. The Wolverines will be back in action on Tuesday night as they will be hosting the Eagles of Prosper. The JV starts at 5pm, 9th at 6:30, and the Varsity will tip-off at 8pm. Go orange and blue!

Wolverines rattle Raccoons with buzzer beater

Once again, your Wakeland Wolverines won in dramatic fashion as they beat tollway rival, the Frisco Raccoons by a score of 56-55. Junior Point Guard Sean Watkins hit a three pointer with about .001 seconds remaining in the game to secure the victory for the Wolverines. Wakeland found themselves down by two with just 20 seconds remaining after a Frisco guard missed the second free-throw during the double bonus. After crossing half-court, Coach Benningfield called timeout to make sure the offense was on the same page. When the ball was inbounded, Sean Watkins came off two screens from the top of the key and hit Cameron Walker on the roll to the low post. Cameron Walker's sky hook fell short, and there was a mad scramble for the ball, after a few desperation attempts, power forward Noah Westerfield secured the ball and hit Watkins on the opposite wing for the game winner. When the ball swished through the net, the Wakeland student body rushed the court in celebration while the opposite stands stood stunned in the turn of events. After the madness subsided, the student body hoisted Watkins up on their shoulders as if he was the main character in "Rudy". Junior Varsity Coach Blake Reedy gasped, "when I saw the shot go in, I started to jump up and down..., I haven't gotten that high off the ground since my 12th birthday party on the trampoline!" Watkins just didn't hit the game winner, he had an impressive stat line with 13 points, 5 assists, and 4 steals. Noah Westerfield added 12 points and grabbed 9 boards, while Josh Harris and Cameron Walker both scored in double digits. The crucial win brings Wakeland's overall record to 18-4, but more importantly moves them to 4-2 in the district standings with just one game left in the first round of play. The Wolverines will be back in action on Friday night against Eldorado rivals, the Coyotes of Heritage. Varsity will tip-off at 8pm, so get there early because the "Coyote Den" will be packed! Go orange and blue!

Wolverines fly past Redhawks in last second thriller

Your Wakeland Wolverines got back to their winning ways on Friday night by defeating the Redhawks of Liberty 50 to 48 in a must have game. Wakeland extends their winning streak to 15 in a row against Liberty since the birth of the cross-town rivalry. Wakeland and Liberty slugged it out all night like boxing heavyweights and anyone who knows anything about this rivalry, knew that it was going to come down to some last second heroics. On a Liberty free-throw to tie the game with just 20 seconds to go, Sean Watkins brought up the ball and penetrated deep into the lane and kicked out to Zol "Big Shot Bob" Singleton for his first and only "3" of the game, which sent the Wolverine crowd into a frenzy as they stormed the court because of the victory. Varsity Assistant Coach Marty Tidwell commented to ESPN 8, "I might need to start adding Just for Men to my hair at the end of the season, I've already had to sit and watch ten of these nail bitters, and we're not even through the first round of District!" Sean Watkins made school history by shattering the single game assist record with an astounding 11 assists. He was in a tie previously with '10 graduate Kevin Graham with 8. Josh Harris led the Wolverines in scoring with 16 points even though he had to bow out early due to a shoulder injury. Noah Westerfield added 11 points while Cameron Walker put in 9. The win brings Wakeland's overall record to 17-4, and improves their District record to 3-2. The Wolverines will look to avenge last year's 30 point loss to the Raccoons of Frisco at home on Tuesday night. It's been rumored that the game might be televised on TWC, so stay tuned for more details. Varsity will tip-off at 8pm. Go orange and blue!

Don Sparks Photography (Varsity)
Don Sparks Photography (JV)
Don Sparks Photography (9th)

Wolverines run out of gas against Lobos

Your Wakeland Wolverines dropped their second district game this past Tuesday night with a loss to the Lobos of Little Elm by a score of 64-51. Both teams lit it up from beyond the arc in the first half by combining for 10 "3's" in just the first two quarters of play. However, as the Lobos maintained their pedal to the medal, the Wolverines just came up short towards the end of the game. Wakeland's inability to convert in transition the last four minutes of play enabled the Lobos to extend their lead at the free-throw line when the Wolverines had to start fouling. Head Coach Brent Benningfield stated in a post locker room meeting, "obviously I'm not happy with the outcome, but if we would played with that kind of intenisty and focus against The Colony last week, this would have only been our first District loss!" Sean Watkins led the Wolverines with 13 points while Josh Harris added 12 points. Once again, Cameron Walker and Noah Westerfield cleaned the glass with 7 boards a piece. The loss bring Wakeland's overall record to 16-4 with a 2-2 record in District play. The Wolverines will be back in action on Friday night in a home match-up against the Liberty Redhawks. Go Wakeland!

Don Sparks Photography (Varsity)

Cougars colonize Wolverines

Your Wakeland Wolverines dropped their first district game this past Friday night to The Colony by a score of 67-47. It was the first time the Wolverines had lost at home this season. A poor shooting performance and a lack of defensive intensity plagued Wakeland through all four quarters. The Cougars jumped out to a ten point lead by half and continued to extend their lead in the second half. Despite numerous efforts to get things going, Wakeland just ran out of time during a last minute surge. Freshmen Coach Joe Lewis stated, "tonights poor shooting performance reminded me of a time when I went 0-17 one night in an Intramural game at The Dakotas State University!" Cameron Walker accumulated his seventh double-double of the season by scoring 14 points and grabbing 14 rebounds. Josh Harris added 13 points while Noah Westerfield snatched 6 boards. This brings Wakeland's overall record to 16-3 with a 2-1 start in District play. The Wolverines will be back in action on Tuesday night in a match-up with district favorite Little Elm in their own backyard. JV starts at 5, 9th at 6:30, and Varsity will tip-off at 8pm. Go orange and blue!

Justin Nicholas Updates

We wanted to make the Wakeland family aware of how to keep updated on the progress of Justin Nicholas' chemo treatments as he battles with cancer. All you have to do is click on the link below, which will take you to his home page on the caring bridge website. Let's do all we can to help Justin and his family through this difficult process. We are WAKELAND, when you play ONE of us, you play ALL of us!

Justin Nicholas Homepage on Caring Bridge

JN25 

Wolverines take the SS Polar Bear Plunge!

The  Scott Sullivan Scholarship Fund...

was founded in memory of Scott Sullivan who passed away January 1, 2009.  Scott was a man of dedication; dedicated to his family, his friends, youth, and sports.  Fueled by his dedication, Scott was passionate about ensuring anyone who played on a team he coached or on one of his children’s teams was able to play.  He would not allow financial hardship to come in between a player and his/her sport. It is with this spirit, Scott’s spirit, that the Scott Sullivan Fund was created.  Scott left this physical world much too soon but his spirit of dedication to children and sports continues.

The Scott Sullivan Scholarship Fund has raised and given away almost $30,000 to underprivileged youth athletes the past 3 years in the greater Frisco area. Please help us continue to support these young athletes.

Scott Sullivan Scholarship Fund Website
Photos by Mary Schwietz

This water is luke warm in Canada!

Panthers sneak past Wolverines before the New Year

Your Wakeland Wolverines lost a close game this past Saturday afternoon to the Paschal Panthers 39-37 in a Holiday game that featured two teams that looked like they hadn't played in a week because of the Winter Break. The Wolverines struggled from the tip as they lacked control of the game during all four quarters of play. A cold draft definitely affected the shooting performance of both teams, but the Panthers out rebounded the Wolverines by double digits, which ultimately gave them more opportunies in the end for the close victory. Junior Varsity Coach Blake Reedy mentioned, "I've been coaching for 13 years now, and I can't begin to tell you how many games I've seen played like the one we did today during the Holidays!" Sam Schwietz led the Wolverines with 7 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks, and 2 steals while Cameron Walker added 13 points. The loss brings Wakeland's overall record to 16-2, along with a 2-0 District 9-4A record. The Wolverines will look to re-focus with a weeks worth of practices as they look to continue their march through district play. The Wolverines will host the Cougars of The Colony in a very important first round match up. JV starts at 5pm, 9th at 6:30pm, and the Varsity will tip-off at 8pm. Go Orange and Blue!