Paradise boys win 3A DII state basketball title

SAN ANTONIO – Down to the final seconds at the Alamodome, and when the last shot missed, the Paradise Panthers had done it.

“It was an awesome accomplishment getting down here and winning silver. But it definitely helped set the tone for this year,” Bo Rickner, Paradise’ head boys basketball coach, said. “It motivated the kids to finish the job and played a huge role this week with the experience of last year and the guys kind of knowing what to expect. They were locked in and believed we could win when no one else gave us much of a chance.”

Behind a dominant performance from senior forward Max Jordan and a dramatic late-game surge, Paradise captured the UIL Class 3A Division II state championship Friday afternoon, edging Palestine Westwood 52-51 in a thriller in San Antonio.

The victory capped a remarkable season for the Panthers, who finished 37-2 and claimed the program’s first state championship after falling in last year’s state final to Kountze.

Jordan led Paradise with 29 points on 14-of-21 shooting and controlled the paint for much of the afternoon. His most important basket came with 33 seconds remaining. Jordan spun inside and hit a turnaround jumper to give Paradise its first lead of the game at 52-51.

Westwood (29-3) had a final chance to win, but Paradise survived. The Panthers threw away the inbounds pass in the closing seconds. However, Westwood’s Kavian Brown’s desperation 3-point attempt was off the mark as time expired.

For nearly the entire game, Westwood appeared poised to claim the title. The Panthers trailed from the opening moments. 

Westwood jumped ahead behind strong outside shooting from Bryant, who finished with a team-high 26 points, including five 3-pointers and a 7-of-10 performance at the free-throw line.

The Panthers struggled offensively early, shooting just 25% in the first quarter as Westwood built a 14-9 lead. Paradise continued to battle through cold shooting in the second quarter and trailed 25-18 at halftime. But the pace is what Paradise needed to stay in it. Westwood averaged nearly 86 points per game this season.

Westwood’s defense limited Paradise’s perimeter attack throughout the first half, holding the Panthers to just one made three-pointer before the break.

The momentum began to shift after halftime.

Jordan took over offensively in the third quarter, scoring repeatedly in the paint as Paradise shot 66.7% in the period. The Panthers cut the deficit to 38-34 entering the fourth quarter.

Paradise dominated the interior throughout the game, scoring 40 points in the paint compared to just 14 for Westwood.

The fourth quarter turned into a back-and-forth battle.

Westwood extended its lead to six points midway through the final period after another three-pointer from Bryant and a pair of free throws pushed the score to 46-40.

But Paradise responded quickly.

Junior guard Cooper Jones hit a key three-pointer with 3:28 remaining to cut the deficit to three, and the Panthers continued to pressure Westwood defensively.

Jones finished with 10 points, six rebounds and three assists while helping orchestrate the comeback.

With 55 seconds left, Jones knocked down another 3-pointer to bring Paradise to within 51-50.

Moments later, Paradise forced a turnover that set up the decisive possession. Jordan received the ball inside and calmly delivered the go-ahead basket.

“This game was a great example of how these kids were all year. Toughness, grit, determination, execution, belief in each other…they never got rattled and already believed we would find a way,” Rickner said. “We did it all year and for this game to play out like it did was pretty special!”

After Bryant’s attempt missed, it sent Paradise players spilling onto the court in celebration.

While Jordan led the scoring effort, Paradise received contributions across the lineup. Senior guard Bryce Chipman anchored the defense with 10 rebounds, four assists and four steals, while junior guard Creek Gibson added five assists and five rebounds.

Senior forward William McGregor contributed five points and four rebounds before fouling out late in the game.

Westwood controlled much of the contest statistically, leading for more than 31 minutes and shooting seven three-pointers compared to just three for Paradise. Sebastian Lathan also played a key role inside, finishing with 15 rebounds.

But Paradise’s physical play in the paint, rebounding advantage and late defensive pressure ultimately made the difference.

The Panthers finished the game shooting 42.9% from the field while holding Westwood to 34.7%.

After finishing runner-up a year ago, Paradise completed its redemption run with a dramatic championship victory.

And fittingly, it was Jordan, the Panthers’ most consistent offensive player all season, who delivered the final and biggest basket of the year, and won the games MVP award.

 

BOX SCORE

Paradise 52, Palestine Westwood 51

Paradise (38–2)

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Palestine Westwood (30–3)

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TEAM STATISTICS

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SCORING BY QUARTER

People-Tag: Bryce Chipman, Cooper Jones, Max Jordan, William McGregor