This Paradise Panthers Sports Minute is brought to you by Lowery Metals
Both Paradise basketball programs entered District 10-3A play this week battle-tested and confident after facing top-tier competition during the holiday break.
Second-ranked Paradise boys basketball opened district action Tuesday on the road at Callisburg. The Panthers return home Friday for a marquee matchup against No. 21 Ponder, a game that could provide an early gauge of the district race.
Paradise began the week with a 19-2 record and showed its quality last week at the Tournament of Champions hosted by Eagle Mountain High School. The Panthers went 3-1 in the event, collecting wins over Eastern Hills, Canyon Randall and Celina. Their lone setback came in a tightly contested loss to Seminole, which is ranked No. 13 in the Class 4A state poll.
The tournament served as a valuable measuring stick for Paradise, offering exposure to a range of playing styles and postseason-caliber opponents. The Panthers left with momentum and clarity as they transitioned into district play.
On the girls side, seventh-ranked Lady Panthers basketball mirrors the boys’ District 10-3A schedule this week, opening at Callisburg before hosting Ponder on Friday. Paradise entered the week at 19-4 overall and 2-0 in league play.
The Lady Panthers also spent last week at a Tournament of Champions, this one held in Saginaw. Paradise finished 2-2, earning victories over Comanche and Canyon Randall while facing stiff challenges in losses to Wall, the top-ranked team in Class 3A, and Seminole, ranked No. 11 in the Class 4A poll.
Those matchups provided valuable experience against elite competition and highlighted areas to sharpen as district play intensifies. Despite the losses, Paradise came away with confidence in its ability to compete at a high level.
With both programs tested and now turning their focus fully to district action, Paradise basketball enters the heart of the season with expectations firmly in place, and the opportunity to meet them head-on.