We headed up Florida’s Turnpike to Leesburg to watch the #2 seed Yellow Jackets take on #3 seed Tampa Jesuit in a Class 5A Region 2 semi-final.  A good crowd from both schools turned out to catch the action.

At the outset of the contest, it looked like the Jesuit fans would regret making the two-hour trip.  Leesburg jumped out to a 7-0 lead early on to force a Jesuit timeout.  That didn’t help and at the four-minute mark of the first period, Leesburg had a 12-1 advantage.  Jesuit connected on its first field goal of the contest from three and then another to close the gap to five at 12-7.  Leesburg responded by closing out the first quarter with a 7-0 run to lead 19-7.

Jesuit settled down and settled in in the second quarter.  They stopped turning the ball over and were now finding their range on both sides of the arc.  Leesburg still kept its lead and halfway thru the quarter the Yellow Jackets were up 26-18.  Thanks to a Jesuit 8-2 run, the score was 28-26 with 1:30 left in the half and it was now a game.  Leesburg maintained its lead until Jesuit’s Nate Boakye connected on a three just before the horn to tie the game at the break, 32-32.

Jesuit connected on a three on the first possession of the third quarter to give them their first lead.  Leesburg responded in kind.  The teams went back and forth and with four minutes left in the quarter, Leesburg held a one-point lead, 38-37.  At that point, Leesburg turned up the defensive pressure and went on a 9-2 run, taking a 47-39 lead and forcing a Jesuit timeout.  That settled Jesuit down, but at the end of the third period, Leesburg looked in complete control with a 51-42 lead.

Leesburg maintained a double-digit lead thru the first three minutes of the fourth quarter.  With the score 55-44, momentum took a huge turn towed Jesuit.  After a Leesburg block, a technical foul was called on Leesburg for taunting.  Jesuit hit both foul shots and on their ensuing possession knocked down a three.  All of a sudden, Jesuit was right back in the contest at 55-49 with 4:33 left to play. Jesuit rode that momentum wave for the next two and a half minutes to get to within a possession, 57-54 with 2:03 left, forcing a Leesburg timeout.  After a pair of Leesburg free throws, Jesuit drew to within two, 59-57, after connecting on a three with a minute to play.  Forced to foul, Jesuit picked the right Leesburg player as he missed both free throws.  Jesuit grabbed the rebound and instead of calling a timeout, pushed the ball down the floor, looking for the first, best available shot.  They got a good look at a three to take the lead.  It rimmed out and Leesburg grabbed the rebound and was quickly fouled.  This time, Leesburg sunk both free throws with fifteen seconds left.  Jesuit was unable to score on their end and Leesburg advances to the Region Final against Tampa Blake in Tampa on Friday night.

Leesburg’s Jamarien Williams and Jalen Brown each scored 15 points for the Yellow Jackets.  Angelo Moton chipped in with 12 points.

For Jesuit, Boakye led the way with 16 points, going 4-6 from behind the arc in the process.