San Antonio Cole advances to 3A title game, but when will it play Dallas Madison?
The only time San Antonio Cole had reached a state title game in its previous six trips was in 1989.
That year a senior named Shaquille O’Neal was dotting the Class 4A state tournament record book as the Cougars took home gold.
Thirty one years later, Cole has another shot as the Cougars held off Peaster 58-44 in a Class 3A state semifinal on Thursday at the Alamodome.
The only question now is when, or even if, the title game will be played.
No. 3 Cole (33-6) was scheduled to play No. 1 Dallas Madison (23-12) at 10 a.m. on Saturday.
But after the UIL announced Thursday afternoon that the state tournament has been indefinitely postponed due to the threat of the coronavirus, both teams are in limbo.
Fifth-ranked Peaster (34-6) was shot for shot early despite the disruption of Cole’s Vince Iwuchukwu. The 6-foot-11 center finished with nine points, seven rebounds and two blocks, but his presence in the middle forced the Greyhounds to alter shots and strategy.
”I think that we were hot and cold against him,” said Peaster coach Bubba Jennings on Iwuchukwu. “At halftime we were down by four and they had two out of bounds plays in the first quarter where they just threw it up to him and he put it in.
”It’s hard for us to defend that. I think we’re in good position, I just don’t know what else you can do in that situation so I have to figure out something to do to keep that from happening.”
The Greyhounds got a spark with 4:07 left in the third quarter when Iwuchukwu picked up his third and fourth fouls in a 20-second span.
Peaster, in its fourth final-four with titles in 1999 and 2000, was able to cut an eight-point deficit to five with 1:56 left in the third, but Cole responded with a 7-0 run to go back up by 12.
With 4:39 left in the game Braxton Bosher, who had a team-high 17 points for Peaster, laid it in to cut the lead back to five at 41-36.
However, Iwuchukwu re-entered the game and took over. The sophomore had five points, including a thunderous dunk, three rebounds and a blocked shot down the stretch.
”Peaster’s a good team and they have a great coach, but it’s also testament to our guys,” said Iwuchukwu. “If I’m being double teamed then we have so many guys that can play that we don’t just have to rely on one person to score.”
Iwuchukwu’s presence helped force Peaster into a lackluster 15 of 45 (33.3%) shooting night from the floor. Cole countered shooting 56.4% (22-39).
Jordyn Arnette led all scorers with 19 points and added a game-high eight rebounds. Arnette added four assists, three steals and a blocked shot for Cole.
”It’s definitely an unfortunate situation for everybody,” said Cole coach Noe Cantu about the tournament being postponed. “Obviously we want to play. Everybody wants to play, but we have to do what’s being told to us.”
