Pressure off Paris?

When the whistle blew with less than a minute left Monday night, the official turned toward the scorer’s table and flashed three fingers.

So ended Courtney Paris’s double-double streak.

The Sooner superstar fouled out with only seconds remaining against Tennessee, finishing with nine points and 12 rebounds. She just missed extending her string of 112 consecutive games with double-digit points and rebounds by only one point.

Paris raised her arms and waved her hands to the Ford Center crowd as she left the floor, trying to be strong, trying to act as though it was no big thing. By the time she got to the bench, though, she had a couple tears rolling down her cheeks. Mind you, Paris fully understood that the Sooners were in the midst of scoring a big win, and really, that’s what’s important. That’s what truly matters.

Still, you could see that this double-double thing has been on her mind and in her heart.

And why not? It’s an amazing streak that will never be matched. Heck, we probably can’t even fully appreciate just how impressive it is.