File photo
Panther KJ Satchel is the lone returning starter from last seasons
team that advanced to the Class 3A Region II semifinals and won
a fourth district championship. It was there first in 13-3A last year.

Panthers return just one players from last years starting five

By David Jenkins
Staff Writer

Not much was expected out of the Panthers heading into last season, due in large part to the departure of four starters.

Despite that, Princeton won its fourth consecutive district championship (second in 13-3A) and advanced to the Class 3A Region II semifinals.

Here’s hoping history repeats itself.

The Panthers once again must replace all but one player from the starting five.

“We as a team and staff are very excited about the upcoming season,” head coach Jeff Coburn said. “We are looking forward to attacking the challenges that teams face throughout the year, as well as seeing how players develop.” 

The most notable player missing is All-State selection James Erger, who signed with Bowling Green University last summer.

The lone returner is junior KJ Satchel. Coming back from the bench are junior Jarod Porter and senior Matt Wingo.

“We will be looking to these young men to set the tone for us on a daily basis in practice, as well as in the games,” Coburn said. “They are at this point our most experienced players and we will depend on them to help lead us.”

Coburn, the former junior varsity coach, takes over the varsity reins from Robert Erger.

“One way we can build on the success of last year and other previous teams is to really reflect on the characteristics those teams possessed,” Coburn said. “All of those teams played extremely hard, showed great effort and determination. Each of those teams played smart and executed our game plan. They also played together and were very unselfish. We feel that if we focus on these things and get better each day, then we could be in good position at the end of the season.”

They’ll once again compete in 13-3A, which has Community, Emory Rains, Farmersville, Lovejoy and Quinlan Ford.

“With the exception of (Lucas) Lovejoy, every team in our district graduated a majority of their varsity team from last season,” Coburn said. “At this point it is very hard to say how we would stack up against any of our district opponents.”

The Panthers kick off the season at home Nov. 20 versus Red Oak.

Games remaining on the pre-district schedule are as follows: 2A state champ Ponder (Nov. 23), Argyle (Nov. 24), Whitesboro (Dec. 15), Bonham (Dec. 18), Texarkana Pleasant Grove (Jan 2), McKinney Boyd (Jan. 8) and Paris North Lamar (Jan. 11). 

“We feel in order to become a really good team you have to play the best competition you can find,” Coburn said. “Our schedule this year includes a mix of very talented teams, most of which were playoff teams last season. Some of those teams include two-time defending state champion Ponder, and two Top 10-ranked (Class) 3A teams in Argyle and Texarkana Pleasant Grove, 4A Red Oak and 5A McKinney Boyd.”

They also will compete in three tournaments: Van Invitational (Dec. 3-5), Lion Classic (Dec. 10-12 in Durant, Okla.) and Whataburger Invitational (Dec. 28-30 in Fort Worth).

Teams taking part in the Whataburger Invitational Blue Division are Brock, Peaster, Ponder, Fairfield, Cayuga, Van, Frisco Liberty Christian, Tuscola Jim Ned, Abilene Wylie, Navasota, Burkburnett, Argyle, Brownsboro,  Cleveland and Fort Worth Christian.

“Van tournament features 15 teams that advanced to at least the second round of the playoffs,” Coburn said. “(The) Durant Tournament includes defending (Class) 3A champ Madison, Skyline, Lewisville Hebron and Denison. The Whataburger Tournament (in Fort Worth) over Christmas break is always extremely tough year in and year out. We expect to be pushed to our limits night in and night out, and hope to improve every game.This is all in hopes we are ready for those last 10 regular season games of the year.”

The 13-3A season begins Jan. 15 with Lovejoy at home, which is followed at Emory Rains (Jan. 19), home against Farmersville (Jan. 22), Quinlan Ford (Jan. 26) and Community (Jan. 29).

Second round of games, which commences Feb. 2, has the Panthers at Lovejoy. They then return home Feb. 5 versus Emory Rains and close out the season at Farmersville (Feb. 9), Quinlan Ford (Feb. 12) and Community (Feb. 16).