Hall breaks even at Plano

PLANO – A consolation runner-up spot was the prize for the Hall Red Devils at the 47th Plano Basketball Christmas Classic Tournament.

Despite a handful of misfortunes — one being the injury of top scorer Billy Gaull (back) — the Red Devils scrapped out a 2-2 record at the always solid holiday tournament, but Hall’s final appearance at Plano High School resulted in a 55-37 setback to a quick and physical host Reaper team Wednesday afternoon.

“They (Plano) were too athletic for us,” Hall coach Mike Filippini said about the consolation championship match-up. “When we’re playing without Billy, we’re missing 18 points and nine rebounds. He hasn’t played now in three games, but we have to give a lot of credit to the kids who played and won two games without Billy.

“We knew we were in trouble when we had to go man against them because they were bigger, stronger and faster than we were.”

The Red Devils started with a quick 5-2 lead, but the Reaper press and nine straight points erased the Hall advantage. During the Reaper’s first quarter run and the remainder of the first half, the Red Devils shot only 26 per cent from the field, and in the game,

At the half, the Red Devils found themselves looking at a 19-point, 32-13 deficit.

“I think Tuesday we played real hard; it was a tough game (against Hinckley-Big Rock), and it probably was the best game we played all year,” Filippini said of the 51-30 Hall win. I think we were a little tired (today). Plano’s a little deeper and they play a lot more guys than us. I think our starters got tired.”

Hall was led in scoring by forward Matt Orlandi with seven points, and off the bench, T.J. Mosbach delivered seven points by shooting 50 percent from the field and downing Hall’s lone three-point field goal. Cody Whightsil and Anthony Urbanski both finished with six points each.

For Plano, three players, Andrew Cadena, Robert Hearon and Adam Blair, were double digit scorers. Both Cadena and Hearon led all scorers with 12 points while Blair contributed with 11.