HACKETT– Cinderella made her appearance at this year’s 3A-4 district basketball tournament that was held last week at Hackett High School. And when she arrived, she was wearing blue Eagles wings.
The Paris Lady Eagles, the tournament’s sixth seed entering the tournament with a regular season record of 11-18, and 6-8 in conference play, won four tournament games in five days to take the 3A-4 district tournament title. In the 2023-24 conference regular season, Paris split with Hackett and Two Rivers, and lost both games to both Charleston and Booneville. Of the conference losses to these teams, all were within seven points.
In winning the district tournament, the Lady Eagles defeated Hackett in the first round on a buzzer-beating three-point shot from deep in the corner by Annabelle Perry to defeat Hackett by one point. Paris then defeated Two Rivers and Charleston to advance to the tournament final. The finals paired the Lady Eagles with Booneville, and the two teams fought an epic battle that went into overtime with Paris winning by the score of 55-51. Cinderella had indeed made her appearance at the district tournament.
The win also gave the Lady Eagles a number one seed in this week’s Region 1 tournament that will be held at Booneville High School. Paris opens regional play on Wednesday at 4 p.m. vs. Elkins. A win over Elkins will send the Lady Eagles to next week’s state tournament.
The district tournament championship was the first for the Paris girls program since it last won in the 2012-13 season under then coach, Toby Tevebaugh.
After an exciting, yet exhausting week for the team, RNN Sports had the opportunity to visit with Jonathan Vire, head coach for the Lady Eagles. As you might imagine, Coach Vire was still feeling the excitement of an epic week for his team, and he was more than happy to share with us his feelings of admiration for his team that played so well during the week of the district tournament.
Coach opened our visit by reflecting on last week and shared, “All week, we played extremely well. I think all of us are still a little in shock over what happened. We go from a corner, banked-in three pointer at the buzzer to even have this thing happen. So, it was a run for sure, and, other than the old cliche of you want to be playing well at tournament time, everyone says that, and we are doing it right now. It is still unbelievable that it all happened. Friday (the tournament final against Booneville) we defended well, although Lexi (Franklin) still had twenty-something points, it was a total team effort. Preslee (Bowman) hitting five threes (three-point shots) Kaydence (Freeman) getting into double figures, and then in overtime, we just battled it out. We did just what we did all week, we just gutted it out. The team played extremely hard, and I can’t say how proud I am of them.”
Perhaps most impressive is that the Lady Eagles had to play starting Monday in the tournament due to their low seeding in the tournament. Paris had to win four games in five days to win the tournament. In fact, if you look at the make-up games at the end of the regular season, you can add two more games that were played on the road at Cedarville on Friday and at Booneville on a Saturday night before the start of the tournament on Monday. That makes six games in eight days including the finals on a Friday that went into overtime. The Lady Eagles displayed great stamina and conditioning to make their run to the tournament championship. In fact, to some observers, Paris seem to play with increasing intensity as the week progressed. “It says a lot about the girls’ mindset and their “want to”. In every phase of the game, they kept going and grinding it out.”
To help the Lady Eagles rest and prepare for this week’s regional tournament, Coach Vire gave the team the weekend off to rest and began practice today for the Elkins Lady Elks. Wednesday’s regional game with Elkins may be one of the most important games the program has had in over ten years.
Speaking of the Lady Elks, Coach Vire described them as “competitive with some bigs (tall players) and a lot of quickness. They have good guard play and will bring defensive pressure with their guards. Their conference plays defense a lot different than we do down here in ours, and it is going to be a lot more pressure defensively. If we can handle their pressure, we will give ourselves a chance.”
The Lady Elks will undoubtedly focus that pressure on the Lady Eagles’ Annabelle Perry who has had a magnificent season all year for Paris. Perry, who many believe is a lock for All-State honors, will be a big factor in not only scoring but handling the basketball against the Elkins perimeter pressure. Speaking of Perry, Coach Vire commented, “I think she is the best player in our conference.”
To advance to next week’s state tournament, everyone playing in the regional tournament will have to win their first round games. With a win over Elkins on Wednesday, the Lady Eagles would play the winner of Bergman and Cossatot River to advance to the regional final. A win in the regional semis would guarantee a state tournament berth of no worse than a two seed. A loss in the semis would send a team to the third-place game against the other semifinal loser for third place and the three seed in state. The loser of the third-place game would go to state as a four seed.
Looking down the line, a four seed from this region would likely play Lamar in the first round of the state tournament that will be held at Elkins High School’s brand new basketball arena. So, for Paris and the other teams in Region 1, it is very important to win at least two games this week in the regionals before heading to the state tournament.
Click on this link to be redirected to Scorebook Live and the 3A Region 1 Girls Brackets: https://scorebooklive.com/arkansas/girls-basketball/brackets/5227
Congratulations to the Paris Lady Eagles on their district tournament championship and a number one seed in this week’s regional. Eagles fans are hoping the slipper will still fit at the end of the week as the team plays for a state tournament berth. In fact, it makes us wonder that if the team qualifies, will the Lady Eagles arrive in a Cinderella carriage at the state tournament next week? We will see!
Good luck to the Lady Eagles and to all of the teams playing in this week’s regional tournaments across the state. RNN Sports will be there on Wednesday to bring you special coverage of the Lady Eagle’s game with Elkins.
