What's Up With Wills: Why Duncanville Rules Local Hoops

It's high school basketball holiday tournament time, which means Duncanville basketball takes center stage. If it's not the biggest tournament of the year, the Sandra Meadows Classic is right there with the best in the state for girls basketball. The hospitality is top notch. The tradition is always evident with former Pantherettes returning to help run the tournament. And the basketball is pretty darned good. Duncanville has brought in teams from Louisiana, Maryland and Arkansas. And that's not to mention the best girls teams around the Metroplex. Pantherettes coach Cathy Self-Morgan should be commended as always for the hard work she puts in to bring in a top quality field. The Duncanville boys stay in the spotlight by playing the best schedule in recent memory. The Panthers are playing in their third out-of-state event on the season in the T-Mobile Invitational in Muncie, Ind. The Panthers, 11-4 on the season, have been to Fort Myers, Fla. for the Palms Classic. Former Plano coach Tom Inman, who guided the Wildcats to the 2005 state title, used to lament that his athletic department wouldn't allow him to go out-of-state to play top competition. Phil McNeely at Duncanville has done just that, helped by the forward thinking of Panthers athletic director Kevin Ozee. Sandra Meadows. Three out-of-state tournaments. There's a reason why Duncanville basketball has ruled the Metroplex for the better part of four decades. VYPE HOT 10 TEAMS (records through Dec. 22) These are the teams that currently have the best chance of winning a state championship: 1. Duncanville boys (11-2) 2. Cedar Hill boys (14-0) 3. Mansfield Summit girls (13-3) 4. Arlington Bowie girls (14-3) 5. Plano West boys (12-1) 6. North Crowley boys (13-4) 7. Mesquite boys (8-3) 8. Mansfield Timberview girls (13-2) 9. Lincoln girls (7-2) 10. Lancaster boys (19-3) VYPE HOT 10 TOPICS 1. The holiday basketball tournaments have always passed the baton from football to basketball with this being the first chance we really get to see who are the best teams in the area. 2. I'll still never understand why Mansfield ISD scheduled its girls basketball tournament, the Meridith Hatch Invitational, at the same time as the Sandra Meadows Classic. For one thing, Mansfield Summit belongs in the Sandra Meadows tournament. And it just never has felt right. 3. I need to check into this, but I understand that the Plano boys basketball team's team motto is "fresh start" under new coach Phil Parlin. Not really sure what this means other than it seems like a bit of slap at the Wildcats' former basketball coach. 4.The Plano West boys are 13-1 and trying to put to rest that they are a soft team. The Wolves might just to do it. It appears coach Anthony Morgan has a nice mix of players, from leading-scroing Mike Groselle to football star Jackson Jeffcoat, who is averaging a double-double. That's not all. Jimmie Jones is finding teammates in the write shooting spots, and Tyler Melville and Bakari Turner are solid players. 5. It's great to see the Cedar Hill boys ranked near the top of the state rankings again. No coach has endured more than Longhorns coach David Milson, who has had AAU coaches targeting his players and parents trying to run his program. 6. One of the season's best stories is the Plano girls' player Chinyere Nnaji returning from a torn ACL. Nnaji has dealt with injuries her whole career, but last year was particularly frustrating because she had the supporting cast around her to give the Lady Wildcats a chance at a district title. Instead the Lady Wildcats were eliminated early on in the state playoffs. 7. If you've been living under a rock, you probably still know that Plano running back Rex Burkhead has committed to Nebraska. It is the perfect fit for Burkhead, who will go to a college where the fans have a real paasion for the sport, even more so than Plano. Texas A&M came in late and made a push for Burkhead, but to no avail. 8. It looks like Plano East coach Johnny Ringo will return to coach the Panthers next year after a rough 1-9 season. We thought this was the right decision months ago because of what has happened with Plano and its 0-10 season this decade. 9. I'm starting to put together my Top 20 football teams for next year, and would love to hear what you think. Just email me at wtwills09@aol.com with any suggestions. 10. One thing I'd like to see happen every season in high school football is for the Class 5A state champions to meet in the opening game of the season. That of course would give us a matchup of Allen vs. Katy. We wouldn't get the same players, but we would get a matchup of two top programs. The randomness that is me 1. Forty-seven days until pitchers and catchers report for the Rangers. 2. Of course I mention this because the NFL season is over, at least in Dallas, Texas. There are so many topics to rant about, from the fall of Jason Garrett to the absurdity that is Wade Phillips. But for me, it all goes back to Cabo. Quarterback Tony Romo's decision to go on a vacation before the New York Giants playoff game ranks No. 1 among the most ridiculous moments in Dallas sports history, right ahead of the Mavericks planning out their parade rout up 2-0 against the Miami Heat. Romo needs to feel the heat of another quarterback competing against him, whether it be a player drafted or signed through free agency. Romo is a very talented player, but his head isn't in the game. 3. "Friday Night Lights" returns for two more episodes on Jan. 7 and Jan. 14 on the 101 on Directv. It will be on NBC soon after that. I'll say it again, overall it has been a disappointing Season 3 just from the standpoint of some repetitiveness in the story lines. But keep in my mind that those of us that are loyal fans hold the shows relationships at a very high standard and expect a lot from the writers. It shouldn't dissuade you from watching once it starts running on NBC and helping make sure we can get a Season 4. 4. Looking very forward to Friday's Cotton Bowl game and Texas Tech's quest for a 12th win. It should be an interesting matchup of Tech's offense against Ole Miss' defense. It's easy to fall in love with the Red Raiders' offense, but don't forget what Alabama's defense did to this Tech offense a few years back in this same game. Ole Miss is suppose to have a similar physical defense. 5. Finally, I'm going to be boring and pick a Tennessee-New York Giants matchup in the Super Bowl. But after watching the Cowboys implode on Sunday in Philly, who really cares.