BY JASON DELLA ROSA

HERALD DEMOCRAT

It has been six games since the Denison Yellow Jackets lost against Sherman and only once has the result been a loss.

But the Jackets have been walking a tightrope between the victory and defeat ledger in almost very win, including their last four. All of those have come down to the wire -- game tied, possession belonging to Denison -- and three different Jackets have hit shots in the final seconds to earn a victory.

"We've been confident down the stretch," Denison head coach Jody Bass said. "If you look back there's always something that's sparked a run. There's always been something that gives a little boost."

There is almost no doubt that fourth-quarter play will decide the outcome as Denison (13-15, 8-3) travels to Sherman (19-11, 11-0), in District 9-4A action tonight. But the Jackets have to hope they won't need to rally like they did last week, erasing two deficits which totaled 38 points to earn thrilling victories over McKinney North and Frisco Centennial.

"When the fourth quarter comes around, they're turning it on," Sherman head coach Jeff McCullough said. "They're probably coming in with a lot of confidence and feeling like they can overcome anything. That makes us a little nervous."

This is also the final meeting between standout players T.J. Taylor and Cameron Clark, barring a potential playoff meeting later in the bracket. The two, who are averaging more than 20 points per game, will become teammates next season at Oklahoma, putting an end to a four-year run of nine battles against each other.

"How many kids and schools get to be a part of a rivalry like this and then you take into account players as great as T.J. and Cameron," McCullough said. "It's unbelievable for the people to be able to watch the last couple of years. It's been really special."

Both teams sit atop the district standings with just a week of action remaining. Sherman has clinched its playoff berth and will win a second straight 9-4A crown with a victory over the Jackets.

"We know there are still things out there we can accomplish and that's one of them," McCullough said. "Reality is in this game it's not what's at stake in terms of playoffs and standings. You want to win this game regardless of the standings."

Denison can not only keep alive its outside chance at sharing the district title with Sherman but also cement its spot in second place since the Jackets are only one game ahead of Frisco and two up on Centennial in the jockeying for playoff positioning.

"If both of us were 0-11, it would still be a rivalry, there just wouldn't be as much riding on it," Bass said. "Just getting to the playoffs isn't enough. I'd rather finish second and play a third-place team."

For the Jackets to improve on that goal, it will take a rare victory over their rivals. The past decade has belonged to Sherman, although many of the games have been extremely close.

"I think it's a matter that Sherman knows they can beat us. We think we can beat them," Bass said. "Until you get it done, it doesn't matter what you think."

The Bearcats have won five straight, with the average margin of victory just six points, and 13 of the last 14 in the rivalry, including the meeting last month -- a 56-48 victory. In that contest it was Sherman which completed a second-half comeback, rallying from down 11 in the third and taking the lead with four minutes left.

"They execute very well," Bass said. "I think that's why the first time we played them, fourth quarter and late third quarter, when we had the lead they executed offensively."

But Sherman has held almost all of its district foes at a safe distance due to the play of Clark, who has turned up his scoring over the past two months, and what the Bearcats do without the ball.

"You've got to have a go-to guy and when you look at the top of the standings -- Sherman, Denison and Frisco -- those teams have a guy who can make a play," McCullough said. "What really separates us is at the defensive end. We do have a nice combination of athleticism and experience on the floor."