Keller Timber Creek runs past White Settlement Brewer

By Matthew Martinez

Special to the Star-Telegram

KELLER -- Guard Isiah Willis and forward Ray Munson fueled a 24-2 run by Keller Timber Creek on Friday that spanned 14 minutes and set the Falcons (17-9, 6-5) up for a 50-43 District 5-4A win over White Settlement Brewer.

The run started after guard Zack Forest hit the Bears' second 3-pointer of the game to put Brewer (15-14, 4-7) up 8-4 with just under three minutes to play in the opening quarter. The Falcons' defense did not allow another Brewer field goal until Dylan Vilaros' 3-pointer with 4:45 left in the third.

"Our defense really picked up at that point and we sort of shut them down," Keller Timber Creek coach Brad Mouser said. "And our offense really thrived off of that. We got [Willis] going in transition in a few times, and that really got us going as a team."

Timber Creek took firm hold of the game when Willis completed a 3-point play on a jumper from the elbow midway through the second quarter, putting the Falcons up 15-10. He completed another just a minute later on a drive through the lane that gave Timber Creek its first double digit lead, up 20-10.

Willis finished the game with 13 points, six assists and four steals. Munson added 10 points and forward John Hatcher paced the Falcons with 14 points in the win.

Brewer, which trailed 26-10 at halftime, made its first serious run of the game to end the third quarter. Forward Jalen Bridges scored six consecutive points late in the third to fuel a 9-0 run that brought the Bears back to within nine, down 32-23, heading into the fourth.

Brewer guard Josh Waters' 3-pointer punctuated the run with just 30 seconds left in the third, but Willis answered with a 3-pointer of his own to open the fourth and keep the Bears at bay. The Falcons held on for a win that strengthened their bid for one of the district's four spots in the Class 4A state playoffs.

With Azle's loss Friday to district 5-4A leader Trophy Club Nelson, Timber Creek finished the week one game up on the Hornets for the final playoff spot, with three district games left to be played.

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