The “smaller” classifications, Class 1A thru 4A, held their respective Semi-Finals and Title games last week. Our thoughts on the on-court events from Lakeland:
CLASS 1A
No surprises in the semi-finals, as both Williston and Hilliard won by double-digits. Williston simply dominated Chipley as Chipley never led in the contest, shot just 22.7% for the game and Williston had more points in the paint (36) than Chipley had in the game. Hilliard had a bit more of a struggle against Crossroad Academy. Hilliard didn’t pull away until the final period but led the contest for all but two minutes and eighteen seconds.
In the Williston/Hilliard final, after Hilliard scored the first basket of the contest, Williston took control. Hilliard never let them get out to a big lead as Williston’s largest lead was eleven points with less than thirty seconds left in the game. A late Hilliard three trimmed the final margin to eight, 61-53. Williston held Hilliard to just 35% shooting, but Hilliard got up twelve more shots thanks to a 14-6 offensive rebounding advantage as well as a 14-9 turnover advantage.
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Kyler Lamb, Williston (MOP): He had a great semi-final game with 21 points, 7 boards, 6 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks. He got Hilliard’s attention in the title game, scoring “only” nine points, but contributed 6 boards, 4 assists, and 4 blocks in the Williston victory.
Javon Brown, Williston: Brown was solid with 10 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 steals in the semis. He led the team in scoring in the title game, dropping 15 points as well as grabbing 5 rebounds.
Reggie White, Williston: He checked a lot of boxes in both the semis and title game. After going for 10 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and a block against Chipley, he put up 14 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals in the title game.
C.J. Hall, Hilliard: His 11 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 5 steals and 3 blocks in the win over Crossroad Academy in the semis was a stat-sheet stuffer but his 23 points, 6 rebounds, 4 steals, and 3 blocks in the title game was herculean.
Malcom Warthen, Hilliard: The definition of consistency, he tallied 16 points and 4 rebounds in both contests. He had three steals in the semis and five in the championship game.
CLASS 2A
The favorites, Weston Sagemont and Orlando Christian Prep, easily cruised into the title game. Sagemont led by just one point at the half against Jacksonville Impact Christian but pulled away over the course of the third and fourth quarters. Conversely, OCP jumped on top of Tampa SLAM early, never allowing them to have a lead in the contest. The Warriors defense limited SLAM to just 29% shooting for the game and OCP nearly had twice as many made field goals (30-16).
The title game was close the entire way. A one-point OCP lead heading into the fourth quarter made for a back-and-forth affair. Both teams had their opportunities and Sagemont ended up making more of theirs than OCP did. While OCP had five more field goals overall than Sagemont, the Lions made nine more three-point shots and four more free throws than the Warriors.
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Jordan Kee, Sagemont (MOP): Elevated his game on the big stage, going for 15 points and 4 assists in the semis and 16 points and 5 assists in the title game.
Kevin Thomas, Sagemont: Had double-figures in both games; 13 points in the semis and 19 points in the championship game.
Isaiah Brown, Orlando Chistian Prep: The Warriors’ best weapon, the future Florida Gator had 14 points and 9 rebounds in the semis, then put up 15 points and grabbed 9 rebounds in the final.
Wilmer DeJesus, Jacksonville Impact Christian: Had an impressive double-double with 19 points and 17 rebounds against Sagemont in the semi-finals.
Ramone Seals, Tampa SLAM: Did all he could for his team in the semis with 12 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists and a pair of blocks.
CLASS 3A
Both semi-finals came down to the final possession. Riviera Prep was down eight going into the final quarter against Tampa Berkeley Prep. Riviera Prep led 44-42 with just over one minute to play until Berkeley Prep tied it up. With three seconds left, Dante Allen drove hard to the hoop, looking to force the refs to make a call. He got the whistle he wanted, went to the line, missed the first but made the second to give Riviera Prep a one-point lead. With fouls to give, Riviera Prep quickly fouled Berkeley, forcing them to make tough in-bounds throw-ins in the back and center court area. Berkeley wasn’t able to get a shot off until one second remained on the clock. The only statistical difference in the contest was Riviera Prep made one more three-point shot than Berkeley.
The Windermere Prep/Providence tilt was no less intense. The score was tied going into the final period. With just over one minute to play, it looked like Providence had the game in hand, up 38-33. However, a foul and two turnovers gave the Lakers of Windermere Prep life. With ten seconds left and down two, Windermere Prep took a timeout. The Lakers’ Brandon Bass found himself with the ball in the paint with only a few seconds on the clock. He put up a shot, scored, and was fouled on the play. He made the biggest free throw of his career to date to give Windermere Prep a narrow win.
In the championship game, after a 17-17 first quarter, it was all Riviera Prep until Windermere Prep made a fourth quarter run to make the final 68-57 score a bit more respectable. Riviera Prep’s 25-13 advantage in made free throws, as well as 9-4 advantage in blocked shots, certainly made a difference. This was the second year in succession that Riviera Prep defeated Windermere Prep for the 3A title. With both teams being dominated by underclassmen, don’t be surprised to see round three next season.
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Dante Allen, Riviera Prep (MOP): Coming on the heels of his heroics in the semis, Allen dropped in 26 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in the title game.
Gustavo Guimaraes, Riviera Prep: His 6 points and 10 rebounds in the semis were helpful, but a near triple-double in the title game of 12 points, 13 rebounds, and 7 blocks was beyond impactful.
Brandon Bass, Windermere Prep: The go-to guy for the Lakers, he tallied a team-high 18 points in the title game after donning the superman cape in the semis.
Sinan Huan, Windermere Prep: He was a big presence inside in both contests. He had 8 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 blocks in the semi and followed that up with 14 points, 7 rebounds and 4 blocks in the title game.
Donnie Morris, Tampa Berkeley Prep: Led Berkeley with 13 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists in the pulse-pounding semifinal.
CLASS 4A
Out of the gate, St. Petersburg Gibbs and North Broward Prep handed hoops fans a three-overtime thriller in their semi-final. Even with an extra quarter and a half of basketball, neither team could reach 60 points on the scoreboard. Statistically it looks like NBP held the upper hand. They shot 45% vs Gibbs’ 36% and led the game for a longer period of time. However, the only stat that counts is the score at the end of the game. In the other semi, Andrew Jackson led for much of the game against The Villages Charter. The Villages made a run in the third quarter but Jackson was able to hold them off for a 47-43 win. Neither team shot the ball well on either side of the arc or from the foul line.
It was another defensive slugfest in the title game between Gibbs and Jackson. The game was tied going into the final period, and it was Gibbs that came through, scoring two more field goals and making 5-6 free throws in the period when it counted most.
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Jacob Daniels, Gibbs (MOP): After a gritty 12 point/5 rebound/7 assist/3 steals performance in the triple OT semi, Daniels had a game-high 22 points to go along with 5 rebounds in the title game win.
Bobby Crawford, Gibbs: His 6 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 blocks in the semis was standard fare for Crawford. He came up big in the title game with 12 points, 12 rebounds, and 6 blocked shots.
TayVion Lawson, Jackson: He led the way for the Generals with 15 points and 8 rebounds in their semi-final win. He contributed 6 points and 7 rebounds in the final.
Enrico Borio, North Broward Prep: The Brazilian had an epic 30 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 blocks in the triple-OT thriller.
Chris Washington, The Villages Charter: Tallied nine points in the semis but was impactful with 12 rebounds and 5 blocks.