Boys basketball: Midland Lee heads back to Region I-5A tourney

MIDLAND Josh Templeton could tell in warmups it was going to be his night.

With Midland Lee star post Malcom Miller in foul trouble, it was a good thing the guard was hitting.

Templeton scored 16 points to lead the Rebels to a 54-50 quarterfinal victory over

Mansfield Summit on Tuesday and help the Rebels advance to the Region I-5A Tournament for the first time since 2002.

Midland Lee (23-9) plays Colleyville Heritage (31-3) at 8 tonight at Abilene Christian’s Moody Coliseum.

North Crowley (34-1) faces Duncanville (35-1) at 6 p.m. in the opening semifinal, with the winners advancing to play in the Region I-5A final at 7 p.m. Saturday.

“My shot was on that night,” Templeton said. “I had a couple of bad games and I finally came back (Tuesday).”

Templeton, a junior, carried the Rebels in the first half while Miller sat on the bench. Going into the game with Summit, head coach Mark Coffman was concerned with the Jaguars pressure.

“I thought we defended them well and we were able to keep them from going off,” Coffman said. “Josh kept us in the game with a great first half and we’re counting on him to do that (tonight). He’s picked up his defense and is a smart guard. He gets us into what we are supposed to be doing.”

The Rebels will look to play an up-tempo game as they face a Colleyville Heritage team that likes to force half-court sets.

The Panthers don’t mind playing low-scoring games, as evidenced by their 40-37 victory over Flower Mound High in the quarterfinals.

“They do a lot of half-court trapping and like to change their stuff up,” Coffman said. “They are a smart team and have a lot of seniors, which concerns me since we start three juniors and two sophomores.”

The Rebels have been bolstered in their last two wins by the return of senior post Wayne Betts, who missed most of the District 3-5A schedule and the bi-district playoff game against Weatherford because he was ineligible.

With Betts back and the solid play of Miller and Templeton, the Rebels are primed to try and make their first state tournament since 2002.

“We just need to have less turnovers and be smarter on offense,” Templeton said. “There is not really any pressure. We just have to go play our game.”

>> REGION I-5A BOYS BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT

At Abilene Christian University's Moody Coliseum

Friday's Semifinals

6 p.m. -- North Crowley (34-1), District 4 (1), vs. Duncanville (35-1), District 8 (1).

8 p.m. -- Midland Lee (23-10), District 3 (1), vs. Colleyville Heritage (31-3), District 5 (1).

Saturday's Championship

7 p.m. -- Semifinal winners. Regional champion advances to UIL State Tournament.