Paris News article from Texas High game 2/13

Wildcats clinch district title

By Van Hilburn The Paris News

Published February 14, 2007

TEXARKANA — After having already clinched a playoff berth, the Paris Wildcats could have taken Tuesday night's game at Texas High a little lightly.

No such luck for the host Tigers, who saw the visiting Wildcats clinch the outright District 11-4A championship with a 69-54 victory.

Four Paris players scored in double figures as the Wildcats went ahead midway through the first quarter and never looked back. Junior post Courtney Jackson recorded a double-double, scoring a game-high 22 points, grabbing 13 rebounds, while also dishing out three assists.

Decedric Sims, Keon Furtch and Marshall Carrell each scored 13 points for Paris. Furtch also had a double-double by grabbing 12 rebounds, while Carrell came close to a double-double, finishing with 13 points, eight boards and three blocks.

Paris (22-8, 8-2) clinched its second consecutive district championship and earns a first-round bye in the upcoming playoffs.

"To win (district), we knew we had to take care of business at home and play well enough on the road to win at least 3 of 5 games. Turns out we only lost one at home and one on the road," said Blassingame of his team's march to another district title.

Texas High (16-11, 6-4), which won at Paris earlier this season, could have clinched the top seed with a Tuesday night. The loss however, coupled with Mount Pleasant's win against Lindale, dropped the Tigers from second to third place behind Mount Pleasant (17-9, 6-4). While they both finished with identical district records, Mount Pleasant swept Texas High in district.

Texas High senior guard Leon Harris scored 20 points, but he only made 8 of 36 shots (22 percent).

"We knew (Harris) could be explosive. He can score a lot of ways, but we did a good job of not letting him get in a rhythm," Blassingame said. "I have to say we did a good job overall defensively against Texas High."

Van Grisson added 13 and also grabbed 10 rebounds for Texas High.

As a team, Paris made 26 of 58 shots (45 percent), compared to 24 of 72 for Texas High (33 percent). The Wildcats also out-rebounded the Tigers 46-31, including 19-17 on the offensive glass. About the only weakness in the Wildcats' game was at the free throw line, where they were 14 of 26 (54 percent), a statistic that was more glaring at halftime than at the end of the game.

Paris was 5 of 12 from the free throw line in the first half, which was the reason they led by only six points 28-22, despite out-playing the Tigers on both ends of the court.

Texas High's Harris nailed a three-pointer at the 7:05 mark of the first quarter to give his team the early lead. At the five-minute mark, Sims tied the game at 5-5 with a three-pointer. That was the only tie of the contest.

A layup by Texas High's Kerry Manning gave the Tigers their last lead at 8-7 with 4:23 left in the first. Paris' Jackson converted a three-point play at the 4:08 mark to put his team ahead by one and begin a 7-0 run that left the ’Cats ahead 12-7. A jumper by Jordan Fields ended the run.

Paris led 12-9 after one quarter and outscored Texas High 16-13 in the second quarter to lead 28-22 at halftime. Sims scored six points in that period to lead the way.

During the first minute of the third quarter, back-to-back baskets by Manning and Daniel Glover allowed the Tigers to pull to within two points at 28-26. After a basket by Jackson made it a four-point game, Glover knocked down a three-pointer at the 6:30 mark that left the Tigers trailing by one, 30-29.

The Tigers got no closer the rest of the game, as Paris went on a 14-0 run led by Carrell. The Wildcats' 6-7 senior had a steal, two putback baskets and a free throw during that run, leaving the Wildcats ahead 42-29 with a minute left in the third.

Paris led 48-37 entering the fourth, and Texas High cut their deficit to single-digits twice in the fourth, with the last time coming at the 3:57 mark when Harris knocked down a jumper off a turnover, then hit 1 of 2 free throws to leave his team trailing 56-48 with 3:57 remaining.

Paris answered with an 8-2 run, as Carrell hit two baskets, while Jackson and Sims combined to go 4-for-4 at the free throw line. Fields — who scored eight points, had six rebounds, four assists and three steals — also knocked down a couple of free throws in the fourth for Paris. The Wildcats made 7 of 8 free throws in the fourth quarter.

Texas High begins the playoffs by taking on the No. 2 seed from District 12-4A, while Mount Pleasant meets the No. 3 seed from that district.

In the area round next weekend, Paris will take on the bi-district winner between McKinney High (14-6, 8-6), District 9-4A's No. 3 seed, and District 10-4A's runner-up Terrell (17-12, 11-3).

In Tuesday night's junior varsity game, Texas High scored a 71-48 win. Kendall King led Paris with 13 points, while Westley Martin added eight for Paris.



Paris 12 16 20 21 — 69

Texas High 9 13 15 17 — 54

Paris (22-8, 8-2) — Decedric Sims 13, Jordan Fields 8, Keon Furtch 13, Courtney Jackson 22, Marshall Carrell 13. FT 14-26. Threes 1 (Sims), Field goals 26-58 (45 percent). Fouls 8. Turnovers 13. Rebounds 46 (Jackson 13, Furtch 12, Carrell 8, Fields 6). Assists 13 (Fields 4, Jackson 3, Sims 3). Steals 8 (Fields 3, Furtch 2).

Texas High (16-11, 6-4) — Leon Harris 20, Phillip Tolliver 2, Josh Grigson 4, Van Grisson 13, Kerry Manning 4, John Stilson 2, Daniel Glover 7, Brandon Lane 2 FT 3-4. Threes 3 (Harris 2, Glover). Fouls 20. Field goals 24-72. Rebounds 31 (Grisson 10). Assists 8 (Harris 3, Grisson 2). Steals 10 (Harris 5). Turnovers 14.

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