Defense keys Cavaliers past Westwood

BRYAN, Texas - The College Park Cavaliers basketball team traveled to Bryan on Friday night looking to continue their playoff run as they met Westwood in the Area round of the Class 5A playoffs.

On Tuesday night against Kingwood, Keanu Andaya did not have a field goal, Keanu more than made up for this in the first quarter as Andaya went 5-for-5 from the floor and scored the first 12 points for College Park as the Cavaliers had a slim 15-14 lead at the end of the first quarter.

In the second quarter the teams continued to battle as Stuart Filkowski drains a three-pointer, Brett Reed gets one to go and the Cavaliers have a 20-16 lead 90 seconds into the second quarter. However, the Cavaliers would get sloppy with six turnovers and just one field goal in their next nine possessions, however Westwood could not take the lead as the stingy Cavalier defense gave up just four points to Westwood in that stretch.

College Park (32-5) pulls themselves out of their funk and finished the second quarter on a 10-3 run as the Cavaliers have a 36-26 lead at halftime.

In the second half, Andaya hits another three-pointer and College Park suddenly has a 13-point lead just 90-seconds into the third quarter. Westwood comes roaring back with two quick three-pointers and three free-throws to cut the Cavalier lead to 41-35 with 4:50 left in the third quarter. College Park stretches out the lead as Andaya hits another shot and free throws by Tristen Newman and Keanu Andaya give College Park a 47-38 lead at the end of the third quarter.

In the fourth quarter Westwood quickly gets a lay-up, forces a Cavalier turnover, drives the lane, gets one to go and one. Just like that the Cavalier lead is down to 49-45 with just 4:27 left. The Cavaliers as usual, don’t panic as Jayden Holden gets one to go, Cavaliers go up by six. Then Holden with a steal, he leads the fast break, gives it to McKinley Green who lays it up, Holden again with a turn around jumper, and College Park has a 55-47 lead with just over 2:00 left. Here comes Westwood one last time, they get a jumper and free throws to pull to within a single possession at 55-53 with just 36.8 seconds left. Keanu Andaya gets another shot to go with 27.6 left, timeout Westwood. The Warriors get three looks at the basket in their next possession and can’t get anything to go. Westwood then fouls Andaya with 4.3-seconds left. Keanu hits both free throws to put this one on ice as College Park rolls into the regional quarterfinals with a 59-53 win over Round Rock Westwood.

With the win College Park improves to 32-5 overall, the winning streak hits number 25 and will face district 13-champion Atascocita in the Regional Quarterfinals on Tuesday night.