Austin High Defeats Klein 51 - 43

The Klein Bearcats came off a good win against always tough Kingwood in the first round of the playoffs and were looking forward to their match up against the Austin High Maroons.  With 5 players on the varsity roster above 6'5" the Bearcats definitely had the height advantage in the match up.  With Seniors David Gerhart 6'6", Kyle Szymanski 6'7", Chris Loving 6'4", as well as junior Cole McDonald 6'6" and sophomore
Andrew Kelly 6'7" they looked at taking control of the middle and stopping the Maroons guard Eric McClellan from getting to the basket.

The Bearcats Coach Glenn Arnold looked like he had the right game plan and his team ready for this second round match up. 

The first quarter was a defensive battle with not much offense from both teams, the Bearcats did a good job of keeping McClellan from getting to the basket holding the Maroons to only 10 points in the first quarter.  The only good thing we can say about this first quarter for the Maroons was that they also did a great job of holding the Bearcats offense to 10 points.

The Maroons picked it up in the second quarter getting some points in transition and scoring 13 points to Klein's 7.  Klein continued to do a good job of holding McClellan as well as senior Chance Robbins under their first half averages.  If not for the offensive performance of senior Adam Gonzalez the Maroons may have found themselves down at the half.  The Maroons went in with a 6 point lead and seemed to have the momentum in their favor.

The third quarter was another sleeper offensively, this was good time to take a bathroom break or get a snack at the concession if you weren't able to get one at half time.  Offensively, both teams just went cold, or maybe their defensive play was just so good no one could score.  I have to guess it was more of the teams just going ice cold.  Both teams were only able to put up 7 points in the third and for two of the best teams in the state, that kind of offense can come back and haunt them down the road.

Both teams were able to get back in the game offensively in the fourth quarter, but the Bearcats defense was still causing problems for McClellan who only managed to put up 6 points for the game well below his regular season average.  Also having problems finding the basket were Robbins and Reinking making this game a much closer game that was expected.  The Maroons should give the game ball to senior Adam Gonzalez he was able to put up 19 points keeping the Maroons in the contest.  In the end the 6 point half time deficit was more than the Bearcats could make up allowing the Maroons to move on to the next round of the playoffs.

We want to Congratulate the Bearcats on a good season, they play in a very competitive Houston district they should be very proud and we look forward to seeing them again in next years playoffs.

Austin High 51, Klein 43

	1	2	3	4	OT	T
Klein	10	7	7	19	—	43
Austin High	10	13	7	21	—	51

KHS: Moore 5, Shockley 10, Baxter 8, Rowe 7, Sterondki 4, Pelley 1, Loving 8
AHS: McClellan 6, Wright 4, Robbins 8, Gonzales 19, Strake 4, Reinking 10
Records: AH: 29-3.