Andrew Earls (1) and CJ Chaloux (53) celebrate during the Panthers 55-27 win at Royse City. Photo by Roosevelt Joubert, Murphy Monitor
ROYSE CITY – Offense, defense and special teams all made an impact in Plano East’s road win.
Jumping out to an early 17-0 advantage in the first quarter, the Panthers (1-0) capitalized on several chances to win 55-27 over Royse City (0-1) on Friday night from Royse City ISD Stadium.
Early on, quarterback Jackson Hays’ flip pass to Chance Ables was the opening touchdown of the season for the Panthers, who led 10-0 after two possessions. Two plays later, Andrew Earls ran an interception back 60 yards for the third score. It was the first of four Plano East interceptions in the game.
Royse City continued to fight, however, battling back with a quick score to cut it to 17-6 in the first. After a Plano East snap on a punt and a Hays interception, Royse City quickly took a 20-17 lead with just over four minutes left in the first half.
East responded quickly, scoring on a 16-yard pass to Jackson Howard to regain the lead, followed by Ricky Perez-Bahena’s interception return and Blake Letourneau’s last second 45-yard field goal putting the Panthers up 14 at the break.
That was part of 38 unanswered points for Plano East, who cruises into their home opener next Friday night against North Forney.
For more on this story see the Sept 5, 2024 digital edition or the Murphy Monitor. Subscribe today and support local journalism in your community.
By Kyle Grondin • [email protected]
]]>The Plano East baseball season ended Friday night, swept in their two-game series against Coppell.
A strong non-district start (14-4-1) to the year never did carry over into district play, where the Panthers finished 1-13 against 6-6A competition. That included 12 straight district losses after splitting the opening series, finishing the year 15-17-1 overall.
Flower Mound, Hebron, Flower Mound Marcus and Coppell clinched the four playoff spots for the 2024 season. The Cowboys needed to win both games against the Panthers this weekend to punch their ticket, and just did that, outscoring East 14-2 in the two-game series.
The first game on Tuesday, April 23, saw East jump out to an early 1-0 lead.
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]]>FORT WORTH – No. 1 Plano East entered the year with goals of reaching state, and punched their ticket Saturday afternoon.
The Panthers spent the entire season testing itself to get to this point. They faced some of the best opponents in multiple states, went against several different play styles, and ensured they were prepared to beat anyone.
For the first 37 tries, they succeeded. Facing Keller in the 38th game, Plano East led wire-to-wire in an eventual 76-60 victory. It was a monumental performance for the Panthers, earning their first-ever trip to the state tournament.
“We’ve known from the beginning that this was our ceiling, that we could do it,” Matt Wester said. “The surreal feeling is doing this at 38-0, that’s the unbelievable part. We tried to play the toughest schedule we could play.”
Against the Indians, the Panthers dominated inside, with DJ Hall leading the way with 31 points and six rebounds, paired with Jordan Mizell’s 18 points, with seven of those coming from the free throw line attacking the basket.
Hall, who was battling an injured ankle from the previous night’s win over V.R. Eaton, scored the team’s opening eight points of the game and continued in the second half to control the paint. Over the two regional tournament games, he scored 49 points and was 20/31 from the floor.
“His ankle is not right,” Wester said. “In my heart, I was thinking it was going to be the ‘DJ Hall ankle game.’ I thought he was sensational. He played defense, rebounded, finished around the basket, and even moved the ball well like a point guard.”
Despite all of that, Keller hung with Plano East in the first half. While East led throughout, the Indians shot 11/28 from the 3-point range and managed to cut the lead to 37-32 at the break.
In the second half, Keller deployed a trap-style defense, forcing a few turnovers to cut Plano East’s lead to three points at one point, but that was as close as they got late. The Panthers outscored the Indians 19-9 in the final quarter.
“It has a lot to do with our experience and poise. They handled the pressure well and were ready for any kind of situation. There’s not a lot of things we haven’t seen before.”
With the win, Plano East’s postseason run continues with five wins, and to more to go down in San Antonio. The Panthers have an average margin of victory of 27 points in their playoff games and hope to close the deal with a perfect season.
Plano East will play in the state semifinals in the Alamodome on Friday, March 8, with the championship game scheduled for 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 9. They will kick off the four team event against Mansfield Lake Ridge (32-6) on Friday at 7 p.m.
From there, the winner will take on the victor of Round Rock Stony Point (37-1) and Beaumont United (34-3) for the Class 6A State Championship.
]]>COPPELL – A 29-point playoff victory makes things appear easy, but it was far from it Friday night.
The No. 1 Plano East Panthers overcame a slow start in the area round against Highland Park, winning 74-45. The win propelled the Panthers to 35-0 on the year, just five wins away from a perfect season.
East advances to the regional quarterfinals, where they will face No. 10 Allen. The two sides, who played back on the season’s first game – a 10-point Plano East win- will tip-off at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 26 at the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland. The winner advances to the regional final in Fort Worth over the weekend.
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]]>GARLAND – The No. 1 Plano East Panthers reached the regional quarterfinals for the first time in over 20 years, and looked like they belonged.
Taking on No. 10 Allen, East took over in the second quarter and never looked back, winning 79-52. The game was physical to start, with East clinging to a 13-8 advantage after the first quarter, but things quickly changed in the second.
The Panthers’ bench stepped up in a big way, outscoring the Eagles 20-9 in leading to the half-time break with a 33-17 advantage. Ethan Moss and Rachard Angton added 3-pointers, sparking an early 8-0 run to open the quarter. The outside shot was opened up due to DJ Hall’s presence in the paint. He scored six in the first and led all scorers with 17 in the game.
“I don’t think the referees and coaches made any of difference,” Wester said. “DJ made some great passes to cutters and we made some plays turning defense into offense. It was good players on both sides and we prepared them for this game. We knew if we could not turn the ball over and move the ball, we could get shots. We were able to do that in the first half. We also knew the way they helped we could get cuts to the baskets and get layups.”
The depth was essential in both halves for the Panthers, as several of the more experienced starters suffered from foul trouble. With Isaiah Brewington and Jon Tran on the sideline, Angton, Narit Chotikavanic and Moss all stepped up in big moments. As the team strengthened its lead, the depth kept the defensive intensity even when the starters were out.
“Especially with these guys, it’s more about matchups,” Wester said. “[Allen] has depth and they wear everybody down. I thought we looked warn down out there, but Ethan and Rachard gave us big minutes. To have him be able to come in and give us that type of defense, not turn the ball over and hit an important shot. You can’t replace Isaiah, but he can come in and do that.”
In the second half, Allen upped the intensity with full-court pressure. The Eagles wanted to increase the tempo of the game, but that only led to more layups and fast break opportunities for the Panthers. Allen couldn’t get any closer than 10 points in the second half before the Panthers reignited their lead.
“The difference between our team and theirs is they shoot like twice as many 3-pointers as us,” Wester said. “We always feel like when you have a team on the ropes, the best way to take the wind out of them is to get layups. We saw the scouting report and knew we could get layups in certain situations.”
Xavier Miller was a big reason for Plano East’s second-half performance, scoring 17 points as well. As a team, the Panthers have preached sacrifice and togetherness, meaning even dynamic players like Miller had to sacrifice shooting opportunities for the greater good. On Tuesday night, he had a chance to put the game away with key baskets late.
“You could go through our team and bring up a bunch of examples,” Wester said. “Xavier could score any game, but we ask him to do so much. Rachard, Narit, Ethan and Seth [Romero] can all start on teams around the area, but sacrifice. Isaiah had 100 wins in his career but was good with sitting on the bench when we needed him too. We know what’s at stake and everyone is eager to prove themselves.”
With the victory, Plano East advances to the regional semifinals to face V.R. Eaton at Wilkerson-Grienes Activity Center on March 1, with tip-off at 8 p.m. The winner advances to the regional final to take on the winner of Keller and Lewisville at the same location on Saturday at 1 p.m.
]]>This time, it was against their crosstown rivals, Plano, as the two sides came back from winter break. Plano and Plano East shared the District 6-6A championship last season, with Plano winning both matchups in the final seconds.
This time, Plano East didn’t allow that to happen, with a gritty defensive performance, leading to a 68-53 win on their home court last Friday. The Panthers won by making 15 more free throws than their opponents, and improved to 22-0 on the season following their victory in the Championship Tournament in Mansfield the week before.
By Kyle Grondin • [email protected]
For more on this story see the January 11, 2023 print, or digital edition of the Murphy Monitor. Subscribe today and support local journalism in your community.
]]>A program finding its footing the last few years opened the season 3-1 at the Andie Studley Memorial Showcase in Wylie, taking on competitive area teams that made the playoffs a year ago. With some new faces finally getting their first taste of varsity action, the Lady Panthers look like a more diverse and creative bunch than fans have seen over the past several years.
By Kyle Grondin • [email protected]
For more on this story see the January 11, 2023 print, or digital edition of the Murphy Monitor. Subscribe today and support local journalism in your community.
]]>The Lady Panthers won eight games in 2023, still finishing under .500 for the year. With a young roster, East improved by six wins from the season before. Heading into the new year, the team looks hungry and hopes to change the girls’ soccer program narrative.
“Two years ago we were really down, then last season improved dramatically and looked closer,” Head coach Cristy Cooley said. “This year, we’ve got a big senior class and a really talented sophomore class. We have some great talent coming in and we’re happy to have everyone here.”
Part of that excitement is a strong performance in the team’s first scrimmage of the season. Taking on McKinney on Dec. 8, the Lady Panthers won 4-1, with Sofia Tepichin leading the team. It was a good game for Plano East and showed the work they put in during the offseason.
“We had a really good preseason and for the first time in a while played fall soccer, playing three other good teams not in the district and it’s been good for us,” Cooley said. “Winning against McKinney was a good first step for us. We wanted to go and did more than that. It was great to watch.”
With that production, Plano East wants to see their next step in the phase of development. While the girls won eight games a year ago, just two came in district play. With some of the top teams in the state calling District 6-6A home, the goal of competing and making the playoffs will be a difficult task.
“We have had a lot of good individuals in the past, but if they’re not a team it won’t lead to the results we want,” Cooley said. “We can compete well and do anything we want, but it’s going to take good team chemistry and working together against other really good teams.”
Leading the pack of talented players will be the return of Payton Cooper. While she missed last season while playing with her club team, she was named the District 6-6A Newcomer of the Year, while also being honored on the district’s First Team as a freshman in 2022. She had an assist in the Plano East’s opening scrimmage and should be one of the key goal-scorers on the roster this year.
She’ll be paired with Lauren Delapaz, Sienna Schell and others who can make an impact. Delapaz, in particular, has stood out this preseason as one of Coach Cooley’s freshman on the varsity roster.
Between the mix of younger athletes and experienced players like Isabella Queneau, Plano East is excited to see what 2024 has in store.
“In the past, we might’ve had a strong starting lineup, but bringing girls off the bench would change things,” Cooley said. “I feel like any girl on the varsity team can come in and contribute. It doesn’t disrupt our rhythm or flow with anyone in.”
Plano East opens the season at the Wylie High School tournament on Jan. 4-6 to begin the regular season. They will kick off the action that Thursday against John Paul II High School at 11:50 a.m. They’ll have just a few weeks to ramp up, with district play beginning shortly after on Jan. 23 against Plano.
With the team working hard, the Lady Panthers are ready to show they have what it takes to show improvement.
“We’re always going to establish goals, and myself and the leadership team have proved helpful in guiding in the right direction,” Cooley said. “We have the players to do it, we just have to stay positive. It’s the ‘Year of the Panther’ and we hope to be a part of that.”
By Kyle Grondin • [email protected]
For more stories like this, see the January 4, 2024 print, or digital edition of the Murphy Monitor. Subscribe today and support local journalism in your community.
]]>The Panthers have been coached by Rick Woodard for 27 years, but after last season, he decided it was time to turn over the program. In a statement after the season, Woodard reflected on what it meant to coach at East for all of these years.
“It was tough. For me, it’s always been about the boys,” Woodard said. “The wins and losses will come and that’s just the way my high school coach would talk to us about it — the wins and losses will come, but it’s about getting the boys ready to be successful. I’m really close with this group, lots of them. I think the last day of school when I see the boys for that last get-together, it’ll hit me then.”
Taking over for the Panthers is Taylor Baca, who’s coached at several programs over the last five years, most recently at Prosper High School. He brings a wealth of experience and success to the program, hoping to improve on an eight-win 2023 campaign.
“It’s an honor to coach a program like Plano East,” Baca said. “Coach Woodard did a great job and was here for a long time. I think it’s always a case that kids are ready for a change after a while. I told the kids from day one that we’re going to determine how things go. We’re setting the tempo and dictating the play.”
Through the start of his tenure, Baca and the Panthers have worked hard to prepare for the upcoming year. That was reflected in their opening scrimmage against Rock Hill on Friday, Dec. 8, as East came out on top with a 1-0 win.
With several new faces and a new system in place, it was a great step in the right direction for a team eager to make the playoffs.
“Over the course of the season, the team has grown a lot, better from day one,” Baca said. “Our goal is to make the playoffs and compete in the postseason. Obviously, it’s a tough district were playing in, but we have high expectations for the season and what we can do.”
Part of that development from day one was the possession and pace Plano East played with in its opening scrimmage. The Panthers dominated the scoring chances and could have won by more on any other night. The team is getting better every day, and the Panthers are optimistic things will keep building with cohesion.
“Tactically we’re a lot better and more disciplined for sure,” Baca said. “The guys are learning and staying organized. They take instruction well. We played Prosper Rock Hill and dominated the game in almost every aspect.”
Leading the way for Plano East is Duncan Sullivan, a senior leader and District 6-6A’s reigning midfielder of the year. Already signed with Navy for his collegiate career, Sullivan leads a group of young players hoping to make their mark at the varsity level for the first time.
Ben Alexander, Ricardo Reyes and several other guys are showing positive signs, but coach Baca believes that the team effort is greater than their individual play.
“We’re pretty inexperienced as a group,” Baca said. “We don’t have a ton of guys with a lot of reps at this level, and it’s coming together really well for us. We’re conditioned well and we’re healthy. We feel ready to go and it’s just about putting those principles in play. Everyone is going to have to play their part this year.”
That first part begins Jan. 4-6 at the Rockwall tournament, with district play looming on Jan. 23 against Plano. To make a run at the postseason, Plano East will need to show its growth and prepare for the competitive games in just a few short weeks.
“There are games we have to believe we’re just as good as anyone in the district,” Baca said. “That belief will take us a long way and we have the talent to do it.”
By Kyle Grondin • [email protected]
For more stories like this, see the January 4, 2024 print, or digital edition of the Murphy Monitor. Subscribe today and support local journalism in your community.
]]>After earning its first district win, head coach Derrick Richardson is confident that the team can still turn things around. They are only a game out of a playoff spot with 10 games remaining.
“This district is still wide open,” Richardson said. “Hebron is probably going to win the district, but anybody can beat anyone in the final three spots. We opened with Hebron and Flower Mound, who is also a very good team, but we responded well and really just couldn’t shoot against Lewisville. I’m confident we’ll be in the mix by the end of the season and the girls have worked hard.”
By Kyle Grondin • [email protected]
For more on this story see the January 4, 2023 print, or digital edition of the Murphy Monitor. Subscribe today and support local journalism in your community.
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