GAMES
RANKINGS
STATE CHAMPS: Parish Girls Lax defeats Reagan
Hard working, dedicated, resilient, and focused are just some of the words that can be used to describe head coach Morgan McDonald's group of athletes year after year. This season, the team's dedication to their craft alongside Coach McDonald's coaching has helped lead the Panthers to a state championship victory!
All season, the team has been led by the likes of Gigi Enrico, Maria Lowder, Taylor Willis, Reagan Holmes, and other talented athletes as they fought to prove their place at the top of the leaderboards through every game they played. Defeating several talented teams including Plano (11-1, 12-5), Bishop Lynch (11-7), Grapevine (12-11), John Paul II (13-12, 10-9), and more, Parish Episcopal was able to showcase power in every step that led them to the state title matchup against Reagan.
Reagan, no easy feat, was ready to put up a fight and put a stop to the Panthers and their regular fast-paced style of play. However, the Panthers were not willing to go down without a fight. After taking an initial lead over Parish, Reagan fans were sure they were going to leave the tournament with a title, but the Panthers had something different in mind.
Fighting back and securing the close, 13-12 victory, the Parish Episcopal Panthers were the ones to walk away victorious. Willing to go the extra mile and not stop when things got tough, the team showcased powerful resiliency as well as a cohesiveness that secured a strong finish in the game. Fans can expect this squad to continue putting in the effort for many seasons to come as they look to add more championship banners to the school's hall of fame.
STATE FINALS: Parish Panthers climb to the top, set to face John Paul II in State Title match
With strength and resiliency, the Parish Panthers have powered their way through their schedule and found themselves in the TAPPS 6A State Title game. Through resilient moments and impeccable determination, the Panthers have a great opportunity to secure the title on Saturday afternoon at Robinson High School in Waco, Texas as they take on John Paul II.
Utilizing every moment in non-district play to sharpen their skills and get better moment-by-moment, the Panthers showcased that they were able to work hard against opponents who have a history of great programs. Defeating the likes of Liberty Christian, Trinity Christian, BigTyme Prep Academy, and even public school Aledo, Parish set the tone and was ready to focus on their district schedule.
Through district play, the team faced hurdles and challenges that only helped shape the resiliency of their program. Posting a 7-3 district record and finishing in the third place spot in their district standings, the Panthers continued to battle game after game while leaving no stone unturned. Armon and Antoine Almuttar, Harris Dar, Torrey Mitchell, Beckham Smith, and other talented athletes for the Panthers came through in dire moments to ensure the Panthers' ability to grasp a playoff spot.
Led by head coach Ahmad Ajamy, the team knew they had something special heading into the playoffs. With no doubt in their minds, the Panthers have been able to showcase poise on the court as they faced off against their playoff opponents. Taking down several dominant programs in close-call games, Parish demanded their entry into the TAPPS State Tournament while continuing to fight for every moment. Through the state semifinal game, several moments powered the team to a 44-38 victory over Prestonwood Christian-- punching their ticket to the state finals.
As the team gears up to face John Paul II, they look to harness their energy and determination against another DFW-area powerhouse team. The Cardinals have posted a 30-8 overall record this season (8-3 in their district play) and finished at the top of their district standings-- the very standings Parish finished third in. In their previous meetings this season, Parish lost 71-62 in early January before winning an 82-72 matchup in late January. Having already seen each other twice this year, the winner of Saturday's game gets to claim full bragging rights on the season.
The ultimate revenge match in the state title game is not lost on anyone as Parish sets out to bring the title back to Dallas. The team can be expected to showcase their strength on the hardwood and put forth every effort against John Paul II. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. in Waco.