WCM Sports

06/01/2026

Former Azle assistant boys basketball coach Barret Ball has been picked to become the next head coach of the defending 3A Division II state champion Paradise Panthers.

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Almost three months after claiming Paradise High School's first athletic team state title, the reigning state champion Panther basketball program has a new leader. Paradise athletic director Tommy Koch announced last week that Azle assistant coach Barret Ball has been hired to take over the program,...

06/01/2026

Decatur’s Cece Davis and Laken Coffman, along with Paradise’s Renlee Longenbaugh, Bridgeport’s Blake Morrow and Chico’s Jordan Weiland wil suit up for the 2026 Maskat Shrine Oil Bowl All-Star Basketball Games Friday at Wichita Falls Legacy High School.

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A total of five recently-graduated Wise County basketball stars will represent their alma maters one last time after being selected to play in one of North Texas’ top all-star events.  Decatur’s Cece Davis and Laken Coffman, along with Paradise’s Renlee Longenbaugh, Bridgeport’s Blake Morro...

05/30/2026

A 4-run effort in the bottom of the sixth inning helped Paradise (35-4) to dethrone 2025 3A Division II state champion Wall with an 11-8 Game 3 win, sending the Panthers to Dell Diamond for their first state championship game appearance in program history.

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The Paradise Panthers had their backs against the wall trailing by 1 run in the sixth inning Friday. But an explosion of offense at the plate helped continue the team's historic journey through the 3A Division II postseason. Paradise scored a total of four runs in two consecutive at-bats in the bott...

05/30/2026

It took the length of a Major League game, but the Boyd Yellowjackets held on to punch their ticket to the state championship game for the second time in program history Friday at Graham High School’s Steer Stadium.

After battling back from a 3-0 deficit, a bases-loaded walk by Iowa Park pitcher Brayden Holster to Boyd's Elijah Webber gave Colton Patton a free pass home, allowing Boyd (38-3) to claim a 4-3 Game 2 win in nine innings.

It took the length of a Major League game, but the Boyd Yellowjackets held on to punch their ticket to the state championship game for the second time in program history Friday at Graham High School's Steer Stadium. Tied at 3 entering the ninth inning, Elijah Webber's patience at the plate paid off....

05/30/2026

WISE COUNTY, HERE’S ANOTHER ONE!

Boyd (38-3) outlasts Iowa Park 4-3 in extra innings in Game 2 to sweep the Hawks in the 3AI state semifinals, and earn the program’s second trip to Round Rock!

The Yellowjackets will face the winner of the Huntington/Corpus Christi London state semifinal matchup at Round Rock’s Dell Diamond 4 p.m. Thursday, June 4.

London earned a 9-4 Game 1 win Thursday, but Huntington evened the series following a 5-1 victory Friday. Game 3 is slated for 2 p.m. Saturday at Buda Hays High School.

Congrats Yellowjackets on the big win!

05/30/2026

HISTORY MADE!

Paradise (35-4) battles back to claim an 11-8 Game 3 win, eliminating 2025 3AII state champion Wall tonight at Hardin-Simmons University’s Hunter Field.

The Panthers will advance to their first state championship game to face Franklin 7 p.m. Thursday, June 4 at Dell Diamond in Round Rock.

Franklin (35-2-2) completed its sweep of Jourdanton in their 3AII state semifinal matchup Friday. The Lions shut out the Indians in two games, 9-0 and 6-0.

Congrats to the Panthers on a hard-fought state semifinal win!

A story will be posted online at wcmessenger.com later tonight.

05/29/2026

A pair of runs on errors, along with three RBI base hits and a strong outing by Kaden Hammonds gave Paradise (34-4) a 5-0 shutout win in its semifinal series-opener against defending 3A Division II state champion Wall Thursday at Clyde’s Hanner Sports Complex.

Games 2 and 3 (if needed) begin at 3 p.m. Friday at Hardin-Simmons University’s Hunter Field.

Read more: www.wcmessenger.com/articles/panthers-pressure-late-hits-shut-down-defending-champion-wall-5-0

A combination of capitalizing on mistakes, late-inning hits with runners on base and a strong pitching performance helped the Paradise Panthers secure the program’s first state semifinal victory Thursday. Paradise (34-4) scored a pair of runs on defensive miscues and tallied three runs in the seve...

05/28/2026

Check out the photos we got of Boyd and Paradise's regional championships!

Photos are brought to you by Barefoot Pools, LLC

05/28/2026

The Paradise Panthers are now one series win away from playing for a state title.

Paradise (33-4) will take on defending 3A Division II state champion Wall in the state semifinals at Hardin-Simmons University’s Hunter Field in Abilene. Game 1 is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday.

Read more: www.wcmessenger.com/articles/panthers-face-defending-champion-wall-in-3aii-state-semifinals/

Continuing their historic season thanks to a regional championship win last week, the Paradise Panthers find themselves one round away from playing for a state title. Paradise will take on defending 3AII state champion Wall in the state semifinals this week at Hardin-Simmons University’s Hunter ....

05/28/2026

Texas A&M commit Will McIntire struck out 12 in a complete game effort, while Boyd’s offense benefitted from a passed ball and a bases-loaded error by Iowa Park in a 4-0 shutout in to open the 3A Division I state semifinals Wednesday at Graham High School.

Read more: www.wcmessenger.com/articles/boyd-blanks-iowa-park-4-0-behind-mcintires-12-ks

Boyd pitcher and Texas A&M commit Will McIntire turned in a strong performance on the mound to give the Yellowjackets an early advantage in their 3A Division I state semifinal series against Iowa Park Wednesday. McIntire put the Yellowjackets (37-3) one step closer to making their first trip to Roun...