Plano East rising junior Kennedy Borders smiles as she holds the Class 6A Division I regional final championship trophy after the Lady Panthers defated North Crowley 49-45 in the Region I-6A final. Photo by Tina Lopez / C&S Media
By David Wolman
Whether it was on a football field, cross country course, volleyball court, basketball court, wrestling mat, tennis court, golf course, or baseball or softball field, the Plano East Panthers provided plenty of memories during the 2024–25 school year in athletics.
The Murphy Monitor is proud to introduce the first installment in a three-part series celebrating the top athletic moments, student-athletes, teams and performances from the past year. Categories for the inaugural C&S Media High School Sports Awards were selected by sports editor David Wolman, with winners published over three weeks.
Part I (July 10) includes the Biggest Story, Breakthrough Moment, Newcomer of the Year and Best Team.
Part II (July 17) will feature Best Game, Best Finish, Biggest Upset and Multi-Sport Athlete of the Year.
Part III (July 24) will wrap up the series with Coach of the Year, Most Improved Athlete, Best Female Athlete and Best Male Athlete.
Here are the winners of the first four awards – biggest story, breakthrough moment, best team and newcomer of the year.
Biggest story: Year of the Lady Panther
Plano East has enjoyed plenty of success in girls’ athletics in recent years.
Tiriah Kelley won state championships in the 100 meters and 200 meters at the Class 6A state track and field meet in 2022. In 2018, Libby Winans won the Class 6A state title in girls’ golf. Plano East’s girls’ basketball team made an appearance in the regional final in 2021. During the fall 2023 season, the Lady Panthers’ volleyball team won their first-ever district title and later made it three rounds in the playoffs. Isa Perreira placed sixth in Class 6A at the 2023 state swimming championships in 1-meter diving.
But this past school year, as a whole, was the best at Plano East in recent memory.
The volleyball team continued its rise under now fourth-year head coach Sarah Perez by competing in the third round of the playoffs for the second consecutive season. The Panthers qualified for the postseason in team tennis for the second consecutive season. The girls’ basketball team made history as the Lady Panthers were a state semifinalist for the first time. The girls’ soccer team made the playoffs for the first time in 15 years. And to top it off, Plano East’s softball team not only made the postseason for the first time in six years but was also a regional finalist for the first time since 2012.
Breakthrough moment: Girls’ soccer makes first playoff appearance in 15 years
After the Plano East girls’ soccer team defeated Plano 4-0 on April 7 to clinch their first playoff berth in 15 years, the players decided to celebrate with a postgame meal at BJ’s Brewhouse and Restaurant.
“I think that they got some Pizookies,” said Cristy Cooley, Plano East head girls’ soccer coach.
Plano East lost 4-1 to eventual Class 6A Division I state champion Coppell in the bi-district round of the playoffs.
Following the season, alumna forward Payten Cooper was named the District 6-6A offensive player of the year and also a selection on the Texas Association of Soccer Coaches all-region second team. Incoming senior goalkeeper Alexa Perreira was also a TASCO all-region second team honoree.
Newcomer of the Year: Arianna Robinson, girls’ basketball
Before Robinson stepped onto the court for her first game in high school, Plano East head coach Derrick Richardson said that Robinson would make an immediate impact.
Using a rare combination of natural instincts, great perimeter shooting, driving to the basket, she was an unstoppable force. Robinson, who has more than 20 Division I college offers, was particularly clutch in pressure situations.
Robinson, named the offensive player of the year in District 6-6A, averaged 23 points and seven rebounds per game during Plano East’s historic run to the state semifinals, including a 31-point outburst against Cedar Hill in the Class 6A Division I state semifinals.
Best team: girls’ basketball
Plano East came into this past season with just two seniors on its roster, Didi Chineke and Sema Udo, but the Lady Panthers, despite that youth, turned it into their best season in program history.
One year after missing the playoffs, the Lady Panthers came back with a vengeance. Led by stellar guard play from Robinson and incoming junior Kennedy Borders and senior leadership from Chineke and Udo, Plano East not only made a return trip back to the playoffs but went on to make it to the state semifinals for the first time in the program’s history.
After rallying for a 49-40 victory over Coppell in bi-district, Plano East scored a 48-44 upset win over state-ranked South Grand Prairie in the area round. Plano East made it three straight playoff wins with a 65-47 triumph over Keller Timber Creek in the regional semifinals. Two days later, Borders sank two free throws with less than 15 seconds remaining to seal a 49-45 win over North Crowley in the Region I-6A Division I final.
Plano East’s playoff run came to an end five days later in a 61-51 loss to Cedar Hill.
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