Boys basketball update: Stat leaders, area polls and player of the week
Entering the Christmas break, the Austin area has several players among the state’s statistical leaders, based on information submitted to MaxPreps.
Eastside sophomore guard Jakob Acosta ranks second in the state with 31.6 points a game and had 54 points in a win over Summit Christian Academy in November, but he’s missed the Panthers’ last four games. Wimberley guard Miles Schleder ranks ninth in the state with 24.6 points a game, and San Marcos forward Malik Presley ranks 24th in Texas with 22.4 points per contest.
Schleder also leads all area players with 77 made 3-pointers, while New Tech’s Darius Stewart ranks second among area players with 44 made 3-pointers.
Weiss post Cam “Board Man” Jackson paces all area players with 11 rebounds a game, and New Tech’s Kome Harris ranks second with 10 rebounds per contest. Mateus Perkins of San Marcos averages 9.8 rebounds a game, and Luling’s Jake Fairchild and Thorndale’s Clason Beasley both rank fourth among local players with 9.4 rebounds a game.
Rouse guard JoJo Moore leads the state with 7.5 assists per game, and Presley ranks second among area players with 4.7 assists a contest.
New Tech’s Isaiah Kinard (3.9 steals a game) and Schleder (3.3) lead area players in steals while McDade's Xavier Candanoza (2.4 blocks a game) and Stony Point’s Josiah Moseley (2.2) pace area players in blocks.
Tip-ins
In Class 6A, Westlake moved up to No. 4 in the latest Texas Association of Basketball Coaches state poll while Stony Point jumped to No. 15 and remains one of just two unbeaten teams in Class 6A, along with Tomball Memorial. San Marcos moved up to No. 16. … The two area teams in District 12-6A both dropped their district openers this week. Killeen Harker Heights beat Hutto 70-53, and Copperas Cove topped Weiss 82-74. … Injuries continue to hamper two contenders in District 25-6A. Round Rock edged Westwood last week in the district opener despite the absence of all-district guard Jason Ward, who could be out for the season. Manor beat McNeil in its district opener last week but lost guard Alan Guyton for a few weeks with a finger injury. The Mustangs are already without all-Centex guard Jayden Barrs and post Shamar Archer for the rest of the season. … Jayden Thompson scored 22 points as Cedar Ridge opened 25-6A play with a 62-57 overtime win over Vista Ridge on Friday. … Westlake beat Dripping Springs for its 84th consecutive district win Wednesday to improve to 5-0 in District 26-6A. Johnson is the only other 26-6A team without a loss in district, and the Jaguars picked up a crucial 62-47 win over Bowie on Wednesday.
In Class 5A, Rouse remains at No. 25 in the state poll. …. District 25-5A opened play this week, and Liberty Hill and Glenn each picked up wins that could prove crucial to their playoffs hopes later in the season. Kris Benham scored 15 points for Glenn in a 42-40 win over Hays while Travon Williams (21 points, four rebounds) and Gunter Daniels (13 points, eight assists, six rebounds, four blocks) led Liberty Hill to a 66-54 win over Leander. … In 23-5A, Jordan Wright and Mekhai Bryant keyed a ferocious defensive effort for Connally as the Cougars opened district play with a 54-46 win over Georgetown on Tuesday. … In 24-5A, McCallum (4-1), LBJ (3-1) and Northeast (3-1) have already created some separation in the standings. CJ Carter scored a game-high 23 points for LBJ in an 85-40 win over LASA on Wednesday.
In Class 4A and others, Thorndale remained No. 23 in the Class 2A poll. … Thorndale is heating up heading into the break behind Beasley and Blake Roberts. Beasley had 15 points and six rebounds in a 46-39 win over Mumford on Monday and 25 points and eight rebounds in an 80-42 win over Somerville on Tuesday. Roberts had 15 points and nine rebounds against Mumford and 27 points and 12 boards against Somerville. … St. Michael’s remains the No. 1 team in the TABC’s Class 5A/SPC 3A poll while Regents debuts at No. 7. Brentwood Christian (No. 4) and Veritas Academy (No. 9) are ranked in the TAPPS 4A poll. Marble Falls Faith (No. 7, 3A), Pflugerville Concordia (No. 5, 2A) and Juan Diego Catholic (No. 8, 2A) are also ranked in the TAPPS polls. … Evan Gruis scored 25 points as Brentwood Christian beat Houston St. John’s 67-60 Friday.
Player of the week
Davion Allen, senior, Hendrickson: A 6-footer with the explosiveness to attack the rim and the ability to hit from 3-point range, the senior guard scored 24 points to lead the Hawks to a 71-51 win over Cedar Creek in the District 23-5A opener Tuesday.
Games to watch
Dec. 27-29
William Roberts Memorial Tournament, Round Rock High School
Dec. 28-30
San Marcos Holiday Classic, San Marcos High School
— Thomas Jones
Fab Fives
Class 6A
1. Stony Point 13-0
2. Westlake 16-2
3. San Marcos 18-2
4. Johnson 13-2
5. Round Rock 12-4
Class 5A
1. Rouse 11-6
2. Hendrickson 13-4
3. Leander 11-5
4. Connally 12-8
5. Georgetown 12-6
Class 4A and others
1. St. Michael’s 13-4
2. Wimberley 12-4
3. New Tech 15-3
4. Thorndale 9-5
5. Brentwood Christian 11-6
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Boys basketball update: Stats leaders, area polls and player of the week
