PARADISE – The Panthers wasted little time asserting control Tuesday night, using relentless pressure and efficient shooting to roll past Whitesboro 78-29 in a District contest at home.
The Panthers opened the game with suffocating defense and quick transition offense, jumping out to a 12-0 lead behind early scoring from senior William McGregor and senior power forward Max Jordan. Paradise repeatedly turned steals into points, forcing Whitesboro into rushed possessions as the Bearcats struggled to settle in offensively.
After Whitesboro briefly got on the board midway through the first quarter, Paradise continued to pour it on. Junior Cooper Jones connected from the corner for a 3-pointer, and senior point guard Cash Gibson added a late buzzer-beating basket to close the opening period with the Panthers firmly in front, 23-8.
The momentum carried into the second quarter as Paradise maintained its pace on both ends of the floor. Jordan finished through contact inside, while Gibson knocked down a 3-pointer to extend the margin. The Panthers repeatedly capitalized on turnovers, converting fast-break opportunities and controlling the glass.
By halftime, Paradise had stretched the lead to 41-13, leaving little doubt about the direction of the contest.
The second half followed much the same script. Jones opened the third quarter with a 3-pointer, and McGregor continued his strong night with multiple finishes at the rim. Paradise’s defensive intensity never dipped, holding Whitesboro to limited looks while continuing to rotate fresh bodies into the lineup.
Whitesboro managed a handful of baskets in the third quarter, including a pair of layups, but Paradise responded immediately each time. The Panthers closed the period ahead 59-17.
In the fourth quarter, Paradise’s perimeter shooting put the game out of reach. Jones drained consecutive 3-pointers from the corner, while senior Brayden Baird added a transition layup and later connected from beyond the arc. Gibson capped the night with another corner 3 as the Panthers pushed the final margin to 49 points.
The victory moves Paradise to 24-2 overall, strengthening its district position, while Whitesboro fell to 5-17 on the season.
Box Score
Whitesboro (29)
Q1: 8
Q2: 5
Q3: 4
Q4: 12
Final: 29
Paradise (78)
Q1: 23
Q2: 18
Q3: 18
Q4: 19
Final: 78
Total Game Stats
Paradise Panthers
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Points: 78
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3-pointers made: 11 (estimated)
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Free throws: 5-for-7 (estimated)
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Key scorers:
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William McGregor — multiple layups, 3-pointer
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Cooper Jones — several 3-pointers, double-figure scoring
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Cash Gibson — buzzer-beater, perimeter scoring
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Max Jordan — interior scoring, defense
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Whitesboro Bearcats
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Points: 29
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Primarily layups
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Key scorers:
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Dylan Carnes — interior baskets
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Justin Patterson — paint scoring
-
Statistics and play-by-play information are based on a live, in-game estimate.