Colbert’s big night pushes Decatur past Gainesville, 64-52Free Access

Decatur guard Javen Colbert soars towards an open basket in the Eagles’ 64-52 bi-district win over Gainesville Tuesday. Colbert netted 39 points in the win. BRENDAN MARCHAND | WCMESSENGER

A career game from Decatur guard Javen Colbert helped the Decatur Eagles hold onto a lead late in its bi-district contest with the Gainesville Leopards, and come out of Lake Dallas High School as bi-district champions.

Although Decatur closed the game with a double-digit differential, the Eagles nearly squandered a 16-point lead late in the game. Decatur coach Robert Yeatts said the high skill level of each team led to the back-and-forth runs from both squads.

“I just preach to our guys, when you play such a good team like [Gainesville] coach [Jeff] Wolf has built, a team with 29 wins, it’s a game of runs,” he said. “We just needed to stay even-keeled, keep our composure and our heads, and stick to what we do best, and I feel like we did that tonight.”

The Leopards jumped out to an 18-11 lead in the first quarter, and maintained an advantage early through the second period. But by the six minute mark in the second quarter, a surging Decatur squad began to find the bottom of the net.

Four combined 3-pointers from Colbert and guard Brayden Shook helped Decatur overcome the Gainesville lead by 3:23 in the second frame. Five additional points from Colbert, along with a Stryker Redwine shot down low, resulted in a 19-3 run in the second quarter by the Eagles.

“That was just our kids playing. We want them to play in space and make unselfish decisions, and they did that,” Yeatts said. “Two nice drive and kicks, then one three to Javen and one to Brayden — that brought the defense out and allowed us to get inside. In that second quarter run, I think they just executed on being unselfish and wanted to see each other succeed.”

The Eagles maintained a healthy lead through most of the third period, but the point advantage started to diminish as time went on. Turnovers and fouls committed by Decatur propelled Gainesville into its own run, and the Leopards cut the differential to single digits by the start of the fourth quarter.

Decatur forward Hendrix Smith attempts a jump shot against a Gainesville defender. Smith brought home 9 points in the Eagles’ win at Lake Dallas High School. BRENDAN MARCHAND | WCMESSENGER

With 2:59 left to play, Decatur was only up by 2. Yeatts said his players didn’t flinch, even when the game came down to the wire.

“We coach with passion and we coach hard, but our guys embrace that… We get in that huddle, we say what we’re doing wrong, the guys say ‘yes sir’ and we fix what we need to fix,” he said. “We weren’t like that when I first got here, but we’ve grown. That’s a team with culture, a team that’s bought in and a team that wants to execute.”

Two quick buckets from Colbert and guard Adan Gonzalez coming out of a timeout gave the Eagles some breathing room. After another Gonzalez score and a 2-for-2 trip to the free throw line from Colbert, the Leopards were forced to play the fouling game as time expired.

Despite the effort to slow the clock, Gainesville was unable to get past the Eagles. A Colbert dunk sealed the game as time expired, with Decatur taking home the victory on a 12-point advantage.

Colbert put on an explosive offensive performance and ended the night with 39 points. Gonzalez tallied 8, including crucial late-game baskets. Hendrix Smith brought home 9 points — most from within the paint — and also provided a solid defensive presence down low for the Eagles.

“I feel like [my scoring] was able to give my team momentum. Say I stop scoring, or I get subbed out, that momentum that I helped create carries onto the rest of the team,” Colbert said. “The win feels good, but we have to get ready for round two.”

Decatur will play the Lubbock Estacado in the area round. Game details have not been released yet. Ranked No. 9 in the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches poll, Yeatts said the Matadors (22-7) will be a good test for his Eagles.

“They’re loaded, they’re good, but it’ll be a war,” he said. “But we ain’t scared of nothing. We’ll get out there and compete and it’ll be a heck of a ballgame.”