Westside trying to keep focus

Times are tough for the Milby boys basketball team these days.

The Buffaloes' 2003-04 state championship seems like a distant memory, with the talent level dropping a bit. But Jim Duffer, Milby's veteran head coach, know how to prepare his players, who have shown a scrappy side in the squad's most recent on-court performances.

On Friday night at Butler Sports Complex, the Buffaloes will try to knock off a strong Westside squad expected to contend for the District 20-5A championship.

The Wolves, coached by Deon Williams, are playing as well as any team in the league.

ABOUT THE GAME

• Matchup: Westside Wolves vs. Milby Buffaloes

• When: 6 p.m., Friday, Jan. 14

• Where: Butler Sports Complex

• What's at stake: Milby might have to play the role of spoiler, picked near the bottom of the District 20-5A in the preseason. A victory over Westside could turn around the Buffaloes' season. The Wolves need to win to keep pace with Madison.

• Westside players to watch: G Michael Gholston, G Robert Hatter, F Jamarcus Williams, G Kofi Anane-Sekyere, F Sidney Pritchett, G Stefon Rhodes, G Cleveland Batiste, F Roddrick Trimont, F Travis Timothy.

• Milby players to watch: G Joshua Sandoval, W Jose Hernandez, W Dunoy Dias, P Mark Esquivel, G Alex Villela, G Domingo Guzman.

TEAM HIGHLIGHTS

• Westside: The Wolves missed an opportunity to take over first place in District 20-5A with a 75-68 setback to Madison, but they bounced back with a 48-36 victory over Sam Houston. The dynamic duo of Gholston and Hatter finished in double figures in both games for Westside.

• Milby: The Buffaloes lost to Westbury 68-62 and Chavez 58-44 to slip to 0-3 in District 20-5A. Hernandez has been Milby's most prolific scorer, averaging 17.5 points in those two games. While not the league's most talented team, the Buffaloes are a scrappy team capable of pulling the upset.