Most coaches would love to have Billy Mack Steed’s problems: A top 10 team with just 2 losses all season and a talented starting lineup that makes the Cats a serious state contender. Lately, however, the Paris boys basketball team has lost some glimmer off that promise while mired in a prolonged shooting slump.
Friday night in the Wildcat Gym, the 7th-ranked Cats rediscovered their mojo with a dominating, 78-34 performance over the Pittsburg Pirates. Their lethal outside shooting returned. It was a showing that Steed had predicted earlier in the day.
Pictured: Josh Robinson blocks a shot early in the Cats’ 78-34 win over Pittsburg Friday
“We had a good practice (Thursday),” he said. “I really think we’re due for a good game tonight.”
So, did the blowout win live up to his expectations?
“I think it did,” he said afterwards. “We shot the ball much better and were able to get everyone into the game. It was a good night for us.”
The game started slowly, but once Paris (23-2) got its transition game going the Pirates, who were coming off a big upset over Liberty-Eylau, couldn’t keep pace.
“Their quickness surprised us early on,” Steed said. “They were able to steal the ball from behind several times until we adjusted.”
By the end of the first quarter, Paris was on top, 20-9, and outscored the Pirates by a 20-7 count in the second quarter. The third quarter was even more decisive, 24-6, as the Cats made mockery of the Pirates’ press.
“They’re probably used to getting turnovers off their press,” Steed said, “and when we were able to score in transition, it threw them off-stride.”
Steed was able to substitute freely, and he pulled all but one starting guard off the court to empty his 4-player bench with almost 6 minutes remaining in the game and Paris holding a 70-28 advantage.
Senior Jordan Embry had his regular dominant game inside with 17 points, 12 rebounds, and 6 blocks. Sophomore Josh Robinson also scored 17 and was 8 of 13 from the field. Senior Jalen Wallace made 5 of his 7 shots to finish with 14.
Twin Jared Embry also finished in double figures with 11, while junior Jalon Pipkins had 8 and would have made double figures except for misfires on a couple of dunk opportunities.
Seniors Tavon Lawrence and Clint Franklin chipped in 5 each, and junior Sam Hawkes added a point.
Deldric Shields scored 15 for Pittsburg.
The teams split sub-varsity games. The Cats JV won, 54-38, led by Jaylen Smith’s 14. The Paris freshmen lost, 47-40, despite 17 from Jaylen Henderson.
Steed said that relying on a regular weekly routine could be the key for the Cats hitting their stride once crunch time rolls around in the playoffs.
“(The coaches) talked about it after practice,” he said. “We think with all the tournament games and the Monday and Saturday games, we were thrown off schedule. Now that district has started we should be able to get some regular practice time again.”
The Cats will have one more important practice Monday before traveling to Texarkana on Tuesday for an early District 15-4A showdown with Pleasant Grove. The Hawks are also 3-0 in district and coming off an impressive 64-45 blowout of North Lamar Friday. L-E routed Atlanta, 112-56, in other district action.
PG is the one team in district which could match Paris inside with 6-8 senior Cross Bright and dangerous outside sharp-shooters Connor Oullette, Trey Reynolds, and Grayson Kirk. They don’t lack for confidence.
“We’re both 3-0,” PG coach Billy Brewer told a Texarkana reporter. “It should be quite a show.”