Yoe basketball perfect in Thorndale tournament

For the first time since the 2011 season, Coach Ed Glendening and the Cameron Yoemen have had the opportunity to play a non-district schedule.  The previous four seasons have seen the football team playing for a state championship, which in turn left basketball no time to prepare for the start of district.

The full compliment of players is already paying dividends as the Yoemen managed to go a perfect 4-0 in last week’s Thorndale tournament.

Cameron defeated tournament host and Milam County counterpart Thorndale in the opener, 58-44.  The Yoemen had balanced scoring across the board.  Newcomer Levi May finished with a team high 15 points.  Kevondre Wesley had nine while Danny Perez finished with eight.  All 11 players - about half of which saw their first action of the year - saw significant playing time. 

"We feel great about it," said Yoe head coach Ed Glendening.  "The hard thing is I really feel like we have 14 kids that can play, and it's hard to get more than eight or nine in.  Usually we don't have enough guys, and now we have enough guys.  There are going to be some games where someone doesn't get what they want.  I wish we could play five quarters so I could get more kids in."

Cameron finished day one at 2-0 with a 65-59 win over Gateway Prep.  The Yoemen held a slim lead throughout the first half before going down 51-41 heading to the final period of play.  LaRondre Booze and Perez each scored six in the fourth to help Cameron close the game out on a 24-8 run.   

"We ran some things that we had to practice and work on," said Glendenning.  "When the kids trust you and see the big picture, you can do that.  I told them that we were going to win the game.  You want to win, but you want to put the your stuff in too.  We don't have enough practice time, so we have to use games as practice."

Cameron opened day two with Dime Box.  The Longhorns had been hot from beyond the arc in a previous win over Gateway Prep, and continued that trend against the Yoemen with five three-pointers in the first period.  Cameron trailed 38-34 heading to the fourth, but once again made a comeback late to win, 55-47.  Booze and May each had six late down low.  Glendening credits the late push to the play of his guards.

"Our guards were so quick that we could pull it out and spread it out a little bit.  When we attacked we were able to get those guys the ball with position inside.  That is really what we want to do.  Those guys made the shots, but really credit the guards for doing what they needed to do."

Cameron wrapped up the tournament on Friday with a 62-55 win over Caldwell.  The Yoemen had defeated the same Caldwell team earlier in the season in overtime.  The Hornets led most of the way before Perez sank a trio of three's late in the fourth put the Yoemen up 54-53.  The guard later put the game out of reach by driving inside for a layup.  Perez had 11 in the fourth and 14 overall.  Booze ended in double figures with 10.  Wesley had nine.

"I am impressed with our kids,” said Glendening.  ‘Every program and every sport talks about playing defense.  It is one thing when you say it and it is another thing when you do it.  Number two, I think we are sharing the ball.  I don't think we took a bad shot.  You share the ball and play great defense and have good shot selection, you're going to win every game.”

Perez and Wesley were both named to the all-tournament team. Cameron picked up their tenth win of the season at home on Tuesday over Bosqueville, 61-34.

The Yoemen will be on the road on Friday at Troy and will host Caldwell (3:30 p.m.) on Tuesday, December 20.