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The Paris Independent
January 20, 2024
S P O RT S Junior and Senior Panthers Face Contrasting Outcomes in Basketball Showdown Paris Panthers Report with George Le Gresley
Boys Basketball In an intense battle on the basketball court, the Junior and Senior Panthers of Paris High School experienced mixed fortunes as they took on the undefeated St. John's Eagles. The junior team put up a valiant fight but ultimately fell short, while the seniors suffered a forgettable defeat. Juniors The Junior Panthers started the game with determination, taking an early lead in the first quarter and maintaining it until the end, finishing the period with a 17-12 advantage. Encouraged by their strong start, the Paris Juniors continued their impressive performance in the second quarter, building a comfortable lead of 2918 with just under three minutes remaining. However, their momentum waned towards the end of the quarter, resulting in a halftime lead of 31-24.
The St John's Eagles, refusing to be defeated, launched a spirited comeback in the third quarter. With 3:07 left on the clock, they managed to tie the score, and when the buzzer sounded, they found themselves ahead by five points, with the Panthers trailing at 39-44. As the game entered its final period, Paris' offense showed signs of resurgence, matching St John's point for point and tying the game at 50-50 with three minutes remaining. Unfortunately for the Junior Panthers, their efforts fell short, and they eventually succumbed to a 62-53 defeat.
Seniors For the Senior Panthers, it was an evening to forget. Shooting struggles plagued the team throughout the game, with most of their attempts failing to find the mark. On the defensive end, Paris seemed to abandon their usual tenacity, and rebounding became a rare sight. Frustrated by the team's performance, the coaching staff made the bold decision to bench all five starters, opting to give the second string an opportunity to salvage the game.
Despite the disappointing outcome, the coaching staff remains optimistic about the team's potential. Recognizing that even good teams can have off nights, they view this defeat as a mere blip on the radar. With aspirations of making a deep playoff run, the Panthers are determined to regroup and rediscover their winning form.
As the season progresses, both the Junior and Senior Panthers will strive to learn from their experiences, using this game as motivation to improve and grow. With their eyes firmly set on future challenges, the Paris High School basketball program remains confident that these setbacks will ultimately fade into insignificance as they aim to reach their full potential.
