With three minutes left in the fourth quarter, Coppell junior forward Sibu Ncube-Socks attacked the basket, cutting Denton Guyer’s lead to eight points. But, crucial turnovers and missed shots allowed the Wildcats to win, 56-44, on Friday at CHS Arena.
Guyer improves to 6-1 in District 5-6A and 22-6 overall, while Coppell drops to 3-4 in district and 11-14.
“We fought hard in the second half, but the little things killed us,” Coppell coach Ryan Murphy said. “When we cut it to eight, we had a chance to shift momentum, but turnovers and a big three-pointer from their side stopped us.”
As the first quarter wore on, Guyer’s senior guard Silas Rodriguez hit a three-pointer to push the Wildcats ahead, 7-4. Guyer kept the momentum going, closing the first quarter with a 16-8 lead after a series of fouls called on Coppell, sending Guyer to the free-throw line multiple times.
“Right now, they’re learning how to battle,” Coppell assistant coach James Whitley said. “They’re learning to be tough and overcome the challenges. We still have leaps to go, but every little bit of improvement and coordination while defending the ball we make adds up.”
In the second quarter, Guyer expanded its lead to 18-8. Coppell junior guard Isaiah Fleming was fouled, making one of two free throws to bring the score to 18-9. Guyer continued its offensive push, eventually reaching 21-11. Coppell managed to cut into the lead after Socks was fouled and converted both free throws, but Guyer quickly responded, leading 25-15 with 3:30 left in the half. Guyer finished, leading 33-17, at the break.

“Ethan and Sibu did great on the boards, but defensively, we let [Rodriguez] carry their team,” Murphy said. “Once he got loose, it led us to over-focusing on him, which opened up good spots for the rest of Guyer’s players. Turnovers hurt us too, and with 10 turnovers, we can’t afford to give away possessions.”
The Wildcats remained strong in the third quarter, leading, 36-22. Coppell managed to score a few points, with Socks passing to junior forward Colin Griffith, who found Macken for a layup to make it 38-24. However, Guyer responded with a 40-24 lead.
“Our coaches always tell us to be more consistent and to put our all when we’re out there, so if we don’t do that, then we can all just turn our stuff in and walk out the door,” Coppell senior guard Jaxon Lowe said. “If we played with more effort and energy, I think we would have a better chance of winning this game.”
In the fourth quarter, Coppell tried to make a comeback, with Macken scoring a layup to bring the score to 48-38. However, Guyer maintained control, with Macken making a key layup to put the Wildcats up 50-40. Coppell continued to fight, with Socks scoring to make it 50-42.
With forty seconds remaining, Coppell fouled Guyer senior guard DJ Neal, who made both free throws to bring the lead to 52-42. Fleming then made a layup, reducing the lead to 54-44 with 45 seconds left.
“It’s tough to lose right now, especially when you see how our guys are trying,” Whitley said. “But, they have to stay focused on what they did right and learn from the frequent mistakes that keep causing the loss. It’s all about consistency, and we’ll keep building.”
Coppell plays Little Elm at 7 p.m. on Tuesday in Little Elm Athletic Complex.
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