Post player Heath Dickey (at right) came in off the bench with this big basket, and snared seven rebounds after starter, Courtney Thomas fouled out in the win over The Highlands Wally Dawkins, head coach, said "Heath's bucket really took the wind out of their sails the rest of the game." PLANO - The Brook Hill basketball team is joining in to do their share in a banner sports year at the Bullard private school, earning a TAPPS Final Four bid in Mansfield this weekend.

With the help of 'do-itall', Chappelle taking things into his own hands in the fourth quarter, The Guard posted a 47-31 win over ninth-ranked, Irving-The Highlands on Saturday at John Paul II High School gymnasium. In 14 years at the helm of the Whitehouse Wildcats, and 28 years of coaching, Wally Dawkins is doing his share as well, making an impact at a Christian school, and better yet coaching in his first state tournament.

Before manning The Guard position, Dawkins had some state ranked teams, and some very close calls in regional finals, but never made it to the state tournament. That was until now.

"Good players make good coaches," Dawkins cunningly began. "I think it shows just what a great coach I am in that it only took me 30 years to make the state tournament," he said jokingly after the regional win. After all, Dawkins has only compiled an overall 28 year head coaching record of 587- 242, gives his players all the credit. "I've only had a few players like Jeremey Chappelle," began Dawkins. "He can do it all, he's a winner, and has one of the best attitudes I have ever been around, and he is a s very special kid.

"You add a tenacious Tyler Baker, a hustling Mason Spradlin, a scrapper like Collin Hanks, two big kids like Courtney Thomas and Heath Dickey, and a talented freshman like Austin Langemeier, and it's easy to see why we are successful," the head coach continued.

"And the really neat thing is they are all Christian young men who have their priorities right in that they love The Lord, and work hard on academic achievement." Brook Hill got 3-pointers from Mason Spradlin, Tyler Baker and Chappelle in the opening half, but led by just a 11-9 differential after one quarter, and a 22-11, halftime advantage. Chappelle, gave the Brook Hill faithful a scare early in the second period when he went down with a bad ankle and had to sit out three-minutes. Upon his return to the floor, playing through the pain he finished off a 13 point first half, and the 11-point lead for Brook Hill. The junior, Chappelle finished out the game with 23 points, 15 rebounds, four steals, three assists, and one blocked shot. Starting the second period, Baker bottomed out his 3- pointer to jump start The Guard as they began to pull away. But one again Chappelle tweaked the ankle and did not come out to start the second half to receive treatment. As Chappell was in the locker room getting wrapped, Brook Hill struggled without a basket for the first five minutes of the third period. After the halftime wrap job, when Chappelle stepped back on the floor he was not to be denied and the driver's could crank up the buses. Chappelle sliced and diced through the lane, and dropped fade-away corner jumpers that drew rain as they ripped the net, and snagged virtually every rebound at both ends of the floor. Foul trouble plagued the game as 44 fouls were whistled and four players retired due to fouls. Courtney Thomas, and three Highlands players were lost to fouls. The fourth quarter got more Guardsmen into action as Heath Dickey grabbed a rebound and scored on the putback for a 35-26 lead. The play by Dickey sat the ravid Highlands fans in their seats, and turned the game in to a Guard rally to finish out the game. Moments later, Austin Langemeier scored his thirdpoint with a charity toss for a 41-28, Guard lead. Freethrows from Spradlin (5- of-6), and additional charity tosses by Jared Dickey and Colton Townley sewed up the first Brook Hill Final Four appearance. The Guard has now won 17 straight games heading into the Final Four weekend. Brook Hill will now face Fort Worth Lake Country, a 45-44 upset winner over Lubbock Christian, on Friday at 3:30 at Summitt High School in Mansfield.