16 January 2022 | prestonhollowpeople.com
Sports
PAUL, PANTHERS SHIFT GEARS TO WIN THIRD STRAIGHT TAPPS TITLE Parish tried a new recipe to keep its remarkable run going
He completed more than 65 percent of his passes as the Panthers averaged 47.2 points per game.
This was the type of game you want to have to close out your senior year. Andrew Paul
Parish Episcopal, unbeaten against private-school competition, capped a 12-1 season by earning its third straight TAPPS Division I crown.
By Todd Jorgenson People Newspapers
F
or Parish Episcopal, winning three consecutive TAPPS Division I state titles wasn’t simply a matter of repeating the same formula. Instead, the Panthers found success in reinventing themselves, especially in the case of their high-powered offense, which was as dominant as ever in a 56-17 thumping of district rival Midland
Christian in this year’s championship game. In 2019 and 2020, Parish relied primarily on an aerial attack behind record-setting quarterback Preston Stone, who’s now at SMU. But with freshman Sawyer Anderson stepping in this season, the Panthers were able to adapt with a run-based attack centered around Andrew Paul. The latter racked up more than 2,500 yards and 42 touchdowns during a remarkable
senior campaign. “We had an answer every time that Midland Christian pushed us, and that answer was Andrew Paul,” said Parish head coach Daniel Novakov. “He had a tremendous game, and our guys just seemed to get better and better as the game went on.” Paul ran for 1,100 yards and 16 touchdowns in three playoff games, an eye-popping performance that has put him on the recruiting radar for top college programs around the
(PHOTO: WILEY WILLIAMS)
country. He accumulated 338 yards and four scores in the title game. “This was the type of game you want to have to close out your senior year,” said Paul, who transferred to Parish from Keller Central before his junior season. “This is such an amazing feeling. This team accomplished so much this year.” That took some pressure off Anderson, who thrived by throwing for almost 2,900 yards and 32 scores, with just six interceptions.
Blake Youngblood led the receivers with 953 yards on 64 catches, including 13 touchdowns. And a defense led by Daniel Demery, Keegon Addison, and others helped Parish outscore its opponents by an average margin of almost 30 points. The Panthers ended the season with 11 straight wins and have earned 15 victories in a row against private-school competition overall. Parish is the first program to win three consecutive Division I crowns since Fort Worth Nolan in 2011-13. With Anderson and other dynamic playmakers set to return in 2022, the Panthers have laid the foundation for a dynasty that shows no signs of slowing down. Robert Thomas contributed to this story.
Horns Up: Turnaround Started Off the Basketball Court
Improved chemistry, new mindset have future looking bright at W.T. White By Todd Jorgenson People Newspapers
The resurgence in the W.T. White High School boys basketball program has come from looking forward rather than back. That future-focused approach led the Longhorns to the Class 5A playoffs last season — a big step for a program that had languished near the bottom of its district. And this year, they are eager to turn more heads. “There was a lot of people doubting that we would do anything,” said senior guard Jamar Bates, who has been in the program the past four years. “You didn’t hear about W.T. White going to the playoffs.” WTW head coach Patrick Washington, who took over the program in 2020 after a long run of success at Woodrow Wilson High, emphasized team chemistry and sports psychology. He introduced an annual retreat that included bonding activities. “Ten toes in”
became the team’s motto. The idea, he said, was building a growth mindset that raised expectations both on and off the court. “Deep down, every child craves discipline. We try to preach that and don’t cut corners on that,” Washington said. “I’m excited about where we’re headed.” A year ago, the Longhorns qualified for the playoffs by finishing fourth in District 11-5A, highlighted by an eight-game winning streak. Even though that postseason appearance ended abruptly with a lopsided loss to perennial power Lancaster in the first round, it turned heads to the extent that more elite players wanted to join the team. It gave Washington the incentive to boost W TW ’s nondistrict schedule, including outof-state opponents and top area tournaments. So, if the Longhorns return to the playoffs in February, they will be more prepared. The result was a promising 9-2 start.
Deep down, every child craves discipline. We try to preach that and don’t cut corners on that. Patrick Washington
FROM LEFT: Such newcomers as Louis Conner and Dre Cole have made an immediate impact for W.T. White this season. (PHOTO: CHRIS MCGATHEY) “We needed to be tested early on and see where our mental focus was,” Washington said. “Can we carry over what we’ve been doing in practice?” WTW is led by a versatile lineup including Dre Cole, Raul Nieves, Charles Fofanah, and P.J. Washington, the coach’s son. Bates said the returnees are eager to
show that last year wasn’t a fluke, and they are setting the foundation for long-term success. “It’s been a change of mentality. It’s a different level of basketball.” Bates said. “It’s been a huge change of trying to adapt to a new system. Now we can go anywhere with this team.”
