The Paris Wildcats basketball team officially finished a magical 2014-15 season with an unblemished 31-0 record Tuesday night, destroying the Atlanta Rabbits, 71-22. It was the widest margin of victory for the Cats all season.
It is the first unbeaten basketball season in Paris High history and a school record for victories, surpassing the 28-4 record by the 2010 team. The only other PHS teams to finish a regular season unbeaten were the 1940, ’41, and ’45 football teams coached by Raymond Berry Sr.
Now comes the hard part: Trying to remain unbeaten as the competition stiffens in the upcoming Class 4A playoffs. Paris, the District 15 champion and No. 1 seed, faces the No. 4 seed from District 16 in the first round.
That game will be played either Monday or Tuesday against either Tyler Chapel Hill or Gladewater at a site and time to be determined. Chapel Hill and Gladewater tied for fourth place. Although Gladewater swept the district series vs. Chapel Hill, District 16 by-laws call for tiebreaker playoffs so the teams will have a play-in game Friday, 6:30 p.m., at Spring Hill to decide which team faces Paris.
Paris head coach Billy Mack Steed is also hoping to schedule a warmup game this weekend prior to starting what should prove to be an exciting playoff run.
In the regular season finale, senior point guard Roy’D Jones was the only Paris player in double figures, finishing with 21 points. The balanced Cats’ scoring ledger included junior Jared Embry with 9, twin Jordan Embry 6, sophomore Jalon Pipkins 8, seniors KD Scott 7, Seljah Johnson 6, Trey Miles 5, and Gary Woods 5.