Paradise senior Max Jordan fights through contact for layup in the Panthers’ 61-51 win over Leonard in the 3A-II Region II title game. Jordan led Paradise in scoring with 22 points. MIKE HALL | FOR THE MESSENGER
The Leonard Tigers were able to bottle up the Paradise Panthers in the 3A Division II Region II final at Lewisville High School, right until the moment that Max Jordan went mad.
The senior forward took the neck-and-neck game over by force with 15 points in the third, helping Paradise to a 61-51 win. Now, a state semifinal date with Henrietta is all that stands in Paradise’s way from a return to San Antonio.
“He was determined, he was relentless, and he’s going to put the team on his back and get to the basket and finish one way or another,” Paradise coach Bo Rickner said of Jordan’s third-quarter takeover. “He did what a senior is supposed to do in that moment.”
The run came after the Panthers returned from halftime up 26-24. The senior forward started with a layup, then another with a Leonard defender draped on his back — a fittingly gritty finish after Cash Gibson hit the deck to rip a loose ball free from a scrum on the baseline, hitting Jordan for second-chance points.
At that point, the bench was standing up. The fans in green were loud, and the game was suddenly different in Lewisville.
Paradise had all the energy, and Leonard’s trio of sharpshooting guards were forced into uncomfortable looks that led to a slump.
And Jordan was just getting started.
Paradise senior guard Cash Gibson beats Leonard senior Jaylen Summer of the dribble in the Panthers’ 61-51 win at Lewisville High School. MIKE HALL | FOR THE MESSENGER
After another stop, he got the ball on the perimeter. Usually it’s a pass or a drive from there. But without hesitation, he let it fly and buried a rare 3-pointer for a player whose shot dispersion chart is typically marked by paint.
And after yet another stop, and another score from the senior, Paradise was up 35-24.
“We were up two and we had to bring it to them,” Jordan said. “I was getting some good looks. My teammates were able to find me, and I was just able to finish and give us a good lead.”
Paradise junior Cooper Jones hits a three in the Panthers’ 61-51 win to claim a second straight 3AII Region II championship Friday night. MIKE HALL | FOR THE MESSENGER
Jordan finished with 22 points in the win, with 15 coming as he took over the game in the third.
Going forward, opponents might need to account for his perimeter shooting, Jordan said.
“I mean, yeah. It looks like it,” said the senior when asked if we could expect more 3-pointers. “I’m shooting 100 percent, 1-for-1. I can’t complain.”
With the breathing room, Paradise extended the lead, but Leonard’s guards woke up late in the third quarter to keep the game within reach. Leonard junior Jackson McDonald’s buzzer beater cut Paradise’s lead to 46-36 entering the fourth.
It got dicey down the stretch for the Panthers, as the Tigers kept the momentum. Senior guard Cash Gibson went down with an injury, and Leonard senior Jacoby LaCook hit a pair of 3-pointers and went perfect from the line to cut down Paradise’s lead to as few as 3.
But from there, Paradise’s defense, rebounding and clutch free throw shooting cinched the regional championship victory for the Panthers, with Cooper Jones, Bryce Chipman and Creek Gibson adding 11 from the line in the fourth.
Jones had 16 points in the regional championship win and Creek Gibson scored 13. Chipman, who stepped in late, and Cash Gibson had 4 each. Will McGregor added 2.
Jones said the team’s versatility will continue to help as they continue their postseason run.
“It came down to rebounding, and then Max hit some big shots, and all the sudden the energy’s on our side,” Jones said. “We just feed off it. That offense translates to defense… Some nights, Max will go off. Some nights, I’ll go off. Anybody can go off on this team, because we play for each other and no one is selfish.”
Region champs. MIKE HALL | FOR THE MESSENGER
Leonard was led by LaCook, who scored 25 in the effort.
Next up for the Panthers are the Henrietta Bearcats.
Henrietta (18-14) defeated Lamesa 48-33 in their regional final matchup.
Game details had not been determined as of Friday evening.
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