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Sports
GREENHILL GUARD HAS AN APPETITE FOR THREES
Sibelle Zambie’s long-range shooting just one of the junior’s many talents
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By Todd Jorgenson
People Newspapers
Sibelle Zambie tends to make 3-point shooting look like a piece of cake. And she’s an expert on both subjects.
Whether on the basketball court or in the kitchen, the Greenhill junior has sweet skills. She’s best known for her long-range prowess as one of the top perimeter shooters in the Dallas area.
She counted firing at least 17,000 shots in November between games, practices, and personal workouts. That equates to almost 600 per day, assuming no days off.
“It takes a lot of reps to be a good shooter,” Zambie said. “I love shooting deep threes. Eventually [the defense gets] closer and closer, so I have to get further and further.”
One memorable performance came last year against Hockaday when the Hornets struggled to find their rhythm early before Zambie hit four straight 3-pointers to key a comeback victory.
“Even when she goes through a rough
Greenhill junior Sibelle Zambie is a sharpshooting guard who has verbally committed to Lehigh University. CHRIS MCGATHEY
patch, she’s going to get hot at some point,” said Greenhill head coach Darryn Sandler. “She’s so much more than a good shooter. Sibelle’s ball handling is significantly better, and she’s great at finishing around the basket. She’s a good passer, and when she draws the defense, we can take advantage of that.”
Zambie has taken her affinity for shooting to social media, posting her shooting challenges and drills, including one unedited clip of 30 consecutive made 3-pointers in two minutes.
“I liked watching videos as a kid, looking for ways to get better. Now I’m the one who has the knowledge and can pass that on to younger kids,” said Zambie, who transferred to Greenhill from Plano West in 2020. “It’s a good way to give back. It’s my personality to share those things.”
Zambie also runs an Instagram page for the baking business she started during the pandemic. Sibelle’s Sweets specializes in pies and decorative cakes. Plus, she pitches for the Greenhill softball team. Zambie’s work ethic comes from being in a basketball family. Her older brothers play at the collegiate level, and her father coached her growing up. Her plans include playing basketball at Lehigh University, whose primary rival is Lafayette, where Zambie’s oldest brother Ryan plays.
Her siblings competed for the Lebanese national team on the international stage. Sibelle Zambie has similar aspirations to connect to her roots on and off the court.
“My dad taught me everything I know about shooting,” she said. “All my shooting form came from him.”
Parish’s TAPPS Football Dynasty Continues to Reach New Heights Panthers earn fourth straight state crown, cap dominant season in title game
By Robert Thomas
Special Contributor
Parish Episcopal joined elite company by winning its fourth consecutive TAPPS Division I football championship on Dec. 2 in Waco.
With a decisive 38-14 victory over Plano Prestonwood, the Panthers made history by joining a group of just 12 Texas programs — public or private — to accomplish that title feat.
“Just saying it out loud is unbelievable, knowing we’re one of 12 teams to do something like this,” said Parish head coach Daniel Novakov. “Our guys were locked in from the start. The defense was outstanding, and the offense made several big plays to get us going.”
In a rematch of a game that Parish won 42-14 in the regular-season finale on Nov. 4, the song remained much the same, as the Panthers (12-1) broke open the game with a 24-point second quarter and never trailed.
Sophomore quarterback Sawyer Anderson passed for 256 yards and two touchdowns and ran for a score. He threw a 42yard touchdown strike to Chase Burton on the first drive and
Parish Episcopal added more hardware to the trophy case following a decisive victory over Plano Prestonwood in the TAPPS Division I
title game. CHRIS MCGATHEY
later found Cedric Mays for a 69-yard score.
“Last year, it was the defense that got us started with our first touchdown,” Anderson said. “This year, we just wanted to return the favor and let the offense come out and set the tone.”
Daniel Demery, the only Parish senior who has started on all four championship teams for the Panthers, had an interception return for a touchdown.
Tre Williams and Dylan Davis added big defensive plays. Maddux Reid, Derek Eusebio, and Bryson Franks were among the offensive standouts.
“I’m happy for our entire senior class as they played a big role in these last four years,” Novakov said. “It’s also a bit sad knowing I won’t get to coach those guys anymore; they are all great kids.” Parish prepared for this moment with a nondistrict gauntlet, including four public-school opponents who combined for a 58-3 record and two UIL state titles last year. Their only defeat
FANTASTIC FOUR
Recapping Parish Episcopal’s four TAPPS Division I state championship wins: Year Opponent Score 2022 Plano Prestonwood 38-14 2021 Midland Christian 56-17 2020 Fort Worth Nolan 42-28 2019 Plano John Paul II 36-0
came against powerhouse South Oak Cliff.
Since TAPPS play began in early October, Parish’s eight straight wins have come by an average margin of almost 35 points per game.
“So much credit for this season goes to our kids and coaches for the work and time they’ve put in all year long,” Novakov said. “We’ve got some of the best coaches in the state that work so hard to get our guys prepared every week.”
Sports editor Todd Jorgenson contributed to this report.
