This Paradise Panthers Sports Minute is brought to you by Lowery Metals
The Paradise Lady Panthers’ bid to return to the state finals ended one round short Tuesday night. The sixth-ranked Lady Panthers fell to No. 1 Wall High School 54-51 in the Class 3A Division II state semifinals at Coahoma High School.
Wall extended its lead from 52-51 to 54-51 on two free throws with 15 seconds remaining. Paradise was unable to get a clean look at a potential game-tying shot in the closing seconds.
The Lady Panthers rallied from a 42-32 deficit entering the fourth quarter. Hartley Barnes connected on a 3-pointer with 27 seconds left to trim the Wall lead to one point before the final sequence. Paradise closes its season at 33-5.
No. 2 Paradise boys are playing in the 3A Division II Region II finals against Leonard (27-6). It’s a 7:00 p.m. tipoff on Friday at Lewisville High School. Panthers are 34-2 after they beat Hooks in the regional semifinals on Monday, 44-29.