10 minute read
Sports
PAUL, PANTHERS SHIFT GEARS TO WIN THIRD STRAIGHT TAPPS TITLE
Parish tried a new recipe to keep its remarkable run going
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Parish Episcopal, unbeaten against private-school competition, capped a 12-1 season by earning its third straight TAPPS Division I crown. (PHOTO: WILEY WILLIAMS)
By Todd Jorgenson
People Newspapers
For 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 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. He completed more than 65 percent of his passes as the Panthers averaged 47.2 points per game.
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
Deep down, postseason appearance ended abruptly with a every child craves lopsided loss to perendiscipline. We try nial power Lancaster in the first round, it turned to preach that and heads to the extent that don’t cut corners more elite players want ed to join the team. on that. It gave Washington Patrick the incentive to boost WTW’s nondistrict Washington 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.
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.”
18 January 2022 | prestonhollowpeople.com The Big Reveal Hillcrest basketball’s bespoke suits are all about team pride, learning
By Bethany Erickson
bethany.erickson@peoplenewspapers.com
If it looks like Hillcrest High boys basketball players are getting off the bus with a little more, well, swagger these days, it’s probably because they’ve taken suiting up to the next level.
The team is dressing in suits custom made for each player by Reveal Suits, complete with a lining festooned with the school’s logo.
Getting them on the students started with a desire by head coach Kelan Jones to elevate his program and prepare his team for what happens after high school, too.
“There’s a sense of confidence in knowing that you are wearing a suit that is sized for you, and you’re easily identifiable as to what school you belong to,” he said. ‘It’s also a conversation piece, and it gives an opportunity to speak about the program, what it involves, what it requires, what it demands, and people want to be a part of that because they’re so intrigued by your look.”
In addition to confidence, he said, it prepares them for when they might play college ball.
“I’m building a program, inside and out,” Jones said. “When they leave me, they’re going to college, and they’re expected to dress a certain way, right? Get on the buses for traveling, being in interviews, meetings, things like that. That’s what we’re trying to establish here — professionalism.” Jones said he thinks the experience of designing and fitting a suit will serve his players well for years to come. “They now know their chest size; they know their neck size. They know their arm length — all things they never looked at,” he said. “They’re learning something they probably didn’t have an opportunity to learn, and because of this experience, they were able to learn
That’s what we’re it a little bit earlier than some.” trying to establish here Jones said that — professionalism. alumni wanted to do something for Kelan Jones the boys, and he liked what Reveal Suits and owner Carlton Dixon were doing on the collegiate and professional sports level. “He just had a vision for his young men looking sharp and professional on game day,” Dixon said. “He was able to get the necessary support from the school to pull it off.” Dixon said they took the boys through
0; F F ; ; ! The Hillcrest boys basketball team became the first high school to suit up in bespoke
duds crafted by Reveal Suits. (PHOTOS: COURTESY
REVEAL SUITS)
the process of being fitted for a suit, and they could help design it, choosing their lapels, buttons, and more.
“You know, we were just talking as we were about to dismiss, and this player raised his hand and said, ‘I just want to thank you because I feel so sophisticated right now,’” he said. “And he had just picked out the suit — he hadn’t even received it yet.”
Dixon said that he is already fielding phone calls from other high schools inquiring about suits. Jones said he hopes that the basketball team is only the first of many Hillcrest teams to get the experience.
“If I can start with the boys basketball team, we’re hoping to expand it, so we have more students, not just basketball, but more students to be able to dress up in a professional manner,” he said.
Learn more about Reveal Suits and its partnership with Hillcrest High at peoplenewspapers.com.
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