For most of the night, the Wheatley Wildcats fought to keep their season alive.
Possession by possession, they chipped away at La Marque’s lead until they were within a single point in the closing seconds. One more shot could have sent Wheatley back to the UIL 4A Division II state tournament for a second straight year.
Instead, a missed shot followed by a blocked putback led to a 68–67 loss and marked the final high school game for seniors Jeremiah Baskin, Herbert Goldsmith, Collier Coleman, and Kendarion Payne. In just seconds, a season built on resilience came to an emotional close.
“In the final seconds, the play was to get the ball in the far corner to (Collier) Coleman, but La Marque came out in a zone which prevented us from getting the shot off in the corner,” said Baskin.
With no timeouts left, Wheatley had to improvise.
“In the final possession, we were trying to get the ball clear and take a good shot,” said Wheatley head coach David Burrell. “La Marque’s defense did a solid job of disrupting, and of course, the opponents’ celebration began as our attempt was unsuccessful.”
When the buzzer went off, Wheatley’s time finally expired.
“I was very emotional,” said Payne. “I was hurt, disappointed, and I felt like I let my teammates down as we all wanted to make it to the state tournament.”
While the final play decided the game, Wheatley’s fight in the closing minutes showed the same resilience that defined their entire season.
“We were down throughout the game, but giving up wasn’t an option,” said Goldsmith.
As the offense struggled, Wheatley intensified its defensive pressure, playing man-to-man until the ball reached half-court before trapping the ball handler.
“As seniors, it’s important to stay composed because we’re the leaders of the team. Younger players usually watch how we react in those moments,” said Payne. “If we stay calm and focused, it helps the entire team maintain their confidence and not panic.”
As Wheatley’s defense tightened, the offense began to improve. Then, coach Burrell made two key adjustments that gave Wheatley an extra edge.
“We backed our defense up, allowing our guys to catch their breath, get a feel for the hostile environment, and get their legs under them as we prepared to cut further into their lead,” said Burrell.
After regaining its energy, Wheatley reverted to its fast-paced style of basketball, ramping up the pressure and consistently keeping La Marque on edge.
That late push nearly changed the outcome, but it also symbolized the persistence Wheatley demonstrated throughout a season that began with many challenges. Wheatley finished third in District 20-4A behind tough competition from Booker T. Washington and Jack Yates, while also taking time to grow and develop.
“Our team felt overlooked heading into the playoffs,” said Baskin. “People didn’t have us making it past the second round, but we stayed together and fought as a team to prove everyone wrong.”
“In our eyes, we were always first,” said Goldsmith. “When we were overlooked, we took it personally.”
“We were big on believing in ourselves despite what others outside of the program thought,” said Coleman.
“We knew we had the talent to compete for the playoffs,” said Burrell. “Our turning point came during the Winter Holiday tournaments, where we were successful against powerhouse teams from Louisiana and Greater Houston. This was a key measurement from last year’s team.”
Much of that growth stemmed from Wheatley’s senior class leadership and experience.
“Senior leadership involves taking responsibility, communicating on the court, helping younger players improve, and ensuring everyone stays locked in on the team’s goals,” said Payne. “Leadership isn’t just about scoring or being the best player; it’s about how you help the whole team succeed and stay cohesive.”
“The bond the seniors have on this team is deep,” said Goldsmith. “We grew together through AAU teams TESA (Texas Exclusive Student Athletes) and FYN (Fly Young Nation) as 17U, fought together, and all had each other’s backs.”
As Wheatley walked off the floor after losing to La Marque, the seniors realized their time playing together might be over.
“After the game, the first thing I told everyone was ‘keep your heads high, the future will always be great, do big things, I love y’all,’”
Jeremiah Baskin
“After the game, the first thing I told everyone was ‘keep your heads high, the future will always be great, do big things, I love y’all,’” said Baskin.
“His words were encouraging because he’s more experienced than we are, and he’s one of our best leaders,” said Payne.
Though the season ended in heartbreak, this senior class’s impact will continue to shape Wheatley basketball.
“This senior class will leave behind a legacy of discipline and positive culture that denotes the typical narrative of young men from the inner-city by the way they carried themselves in our program,” said Burrell.
“I hope the younger players understand that time really flies by; it doesn’t wait for anyone,” said Payne. “Stay humble in everything you do, work hard, be consistent, and dedicated.”
Wheatley finished just one point shy of returning to San Antonio, but the determination and leadership of Wheatley’s seniors ensured their season would be remembered for much more than the final score.
Payne has yet to make a commitment but plans to walk on while attending Prairie View A&M to study interior architecture. Goldsmith has not committed to any school but has offers from York University, Bethel University, and William Penn University. He aims to study business in college with the ultimate goal of managing his own AAU program and increasing youth engagement. Coleman remains uncommitted but hopes to walk onto a college team while studying business or economics. Baskin is also uncommitted but is looking for a school that will give him the chance to continue his basketball career. During college, he plans to pursue a business degree.
“I want our Wheatley fans to remember us as a disciplined team that never gave up and always stayed together no matter what was against us,” said Baskin.
