The 5th-ranked Paris Wildcats recorded 18 steals and 7 blocks on the defensive end and cashed those opportunities into 8 dunks, 21 offensive rebounds, and 22 assists on the other end to thoroughly overwhelm the Spring Hill Panthers, 77-38, Tuesday night at Emory Rains in a Class 4A bi-district basketball playoff.
The Cats advance to the area round this weekend against the Canton Eagles, a mild upset winner over Crandall in their first-round match Tuesday. The date and site of the Paris-Canton game is expected to be announced Wednesday.
Tenacious defense, such as the corner trap applied by Jared (left) and Jordan Embry, paves the way for 8 dunks including the one below by Jordan
It was apparent from the opening tip that the Panthers, who finished 4th in District 16-4A, could not match the District 15 champions in quickness and athletic ability. The Cats raced out to a 15-0 start and led by a 22-7 count after the first quarter. Paris had 5 dunks in the first period alone.
The Paris momentum was slowed, somewhat, in the second quarter as the Cats tried to play to the crowd with a series of spectacular passes and dunks that resulted in miscues instead of settling for more ordinary results. Still, it was over by halftime with Paris carrying a 38-13 lead into the locker room.
The small Spring Hill faithful, stunned by the mismatch in the first half, greeted their team’s late return to the court for the second half with their loudest outburst. The Panthers seemed re-energized briefly, and a defensive switch to a trapping style caught the Cats off-guard for the first couple of possessions.
It was a minor hurdle which the Cats tossed aside. By the end of the third quarter, the score was 62-23, and Paris coach Billy Mack Steed pulled his starters from the game with 6:25 remaining and the Cats holding a 65-23 lead. Spring Hill outscored the second team, 15-12, but the large Paris contingent of fans saved their most enthusiastic cheers for the play of the reserves, particiularly junior post Sam Hawkes who knocked down a pair of 3’s and scored 8 points off the bench.
The Embry twins dominated the smaller Spring Hill lineup. Jared had a game high 21 points to go with 11 rebounds, 4 steals, 2 blocks, and 4 assists. Jordan scored 20.
Jaylon Pipkins was the only other Wildcat in double figures with 11, while Josh Robinson had a good all-around game with 9 points, 7 assists, and 4 steals.
Paris is now 31-2 on the season and currently riding a 12-game winning streak.
In other playoff games of note, District 15-4A teams swept their bi-district matches against District 16. Pleasant Grove beat Chapel Hill, 68-60, in the closest game. North Lamar routed Gilmer, 74-50, while Liberty-Eylau whipped Gladewater, 66-47.
The Paris-Canton winner will face the winner of L-E vs. Van in a regional quarterfinal next week.