By Kevin Lonnquist
NTX Varsity Sports Columnist
The 300-mile return bus ride from the Alamodome to Paradise last March probably remained mostly silent.
Maybe a muffled comment surfaced or a quiet conversation from a corner made its way through the cabin. But when head coach Bo Rickner, his staff and players came so close to winning a state title only to fall short, it was something not easy to accept.
What they could do is learn to deal with it. They allowed this pain to serve its purpose as a lesson and built on it with the hope of earning another opportunity in 2025-26.
Thanks to Cooper Jones’ walk-off 3-pointer to beat Henrietta, 38-35, in Tuesday’s state semifinal at Denton High School, Paradise has earned its opportunity.
A little more than a year has passed since Paradise lost to Kountze, 67-41, in the Class 3A Division II state championship. That was on March 7, 2025.
On Friday, the No. 2 Panthers (36-2) earn another chance. This won’t be a coronation. Far from it. They face No. 5 Palestine Westwood (29-2) in the 3A Division II state championship at 1:00 p.m. Friday back in San Antonio’s Alamodome.
“We will have to play 32 minutes of great basketball,’’ Rickner said. “We need to be relentless on defense and make them work for shots. Hopefully, get them to take contested jumpers and limit them to one shot.’’
This is the definition in a contrast of styles. Paradise did not break 40 to win its semifinal. Westwood’s Panthers blew away Aransas Pass in its Tuesday state semifinal, 96-56. In fact, Westwood averages nearly 86 points per game. The more possessions and the more pressure it wills on the opponent pushing the pace, the worse it can become.
They are led by junior guard (Texas Tech QB commit) Kavian Bryant who averages 26.4 points. Bryant’s younger brother Kaden averages 16.2 and sophomore Markel Morrow is at 13.4.
Paradise’s defense carried it to the final game of the season once again. They are allowing only 40.1 points per game.
What helps the Panthers is that they understand the spectacle of playing in such a huge building. No need to be in awe. They just can’t be in awe of Westwood. However, this is Palestine’s first appearance in a state title game.
“Hopefully, just the experience and knowing to a certain degree what to expect,’’ Rickner said. “There’s a completely different feel that comes with playing in a state championship and in the dome.
“We’ve talked about the first quarter being the most important so hopefully we can be ready and get off to a good start.’’
However, Paradise still expects to be without senior point guard Cash Gibson. Gibson sprained his ankle in the Region II final win over Leonard. He did not play against Henrietta. Younger brother, junior Creek, should run the point. Rickner said they will make a final decision about Cash’s availability at game time.
The key offensively for Paradise is to allow Jones to get going early, create some help from Will McGregor – two big 3-pointers in the fourth quarter Tuesday – and hope Max Jordan can be effective around the rim.
Pace will be the key. Westwood hasn’t been slowed much. But it appears to matter if Paradise can dictate the tempo. Westwood is 4-1 in games where it finished scoring in the 60s.
“Keeping them under 50 definitely boosts our chances,’’ Rickner said. “But that happens because we are playing great defense, rebounding the basketball and limiting turnovers.’’
Ironically, two of those came against the 2A Division II state finalists Martins Mill and Lipan who played each other Thursday night for the title. Westwood beat Martins Mill, 67-56, but lost to Lipan, 68-60, in a December tournament.
Paradise has something in common Westwood. It also lost at Lipan, 60-49, on Dec. 6.
Those results are history. Now, Paradise wants to create its own history late Friday afternoon.
Class 3A Division II Boys State Championship
No. 2 Paradise (36-2) vs. No. 5 Palestine Westwood (29-2); 1:00 p.m., Friday, Alamodome, San Antonio
Paradise’s playoff road: d. Village Tech, 73-57, d. Chisum, 40-24, d. Hooks, 44-29, d. Leonard, 61-51, d. Henrietta, 38-35
Palestine Westwood: d. Rogers, 89-49, d. Keene, 60-47, d. New Waverly, 87-41, d. Onalaska, 96-77, d. Aransas Pass, 92-56
Winning streaks: Paradise 19, Westwood 17
