LAKELAND- In a game of scoring runs by both teams, the dream of a state title started to slip away from Blake’s varsity basketball team in the fourth quarter. The Blake faithful, which had showed up in the high hundreds at The Lakeland Center gave a hearty applause to their team as the defeat become apparent. The Black and Yellow Jackets (as opposed to Leesburg’s orange and black Yellow Jackets) of Blake (28-3) left everything on court, but lost 68-52.
Leesburg (27-4) used dominating second and fourth quarters where they scored 51 of their 68 total points to advance to tomorrow’s 4A state final versus Cardinal Gibbons.
A seven man rotation for Blake was tested immediately when they committed 12 first half fouls. Twelve more fouls in the second half sealed their fate against a Leesburg squad that was deep. Leesburg had nine players score, while Blake finished the game with just five regulars after both junior Clarence Peterson and senior Quintin Brewer had fouled out.
As he did against Jesuit in the regional semifinal, Peterson drained a 3-pointer to start game. Defensive intensity was there from the start as at one point during the opening quarter Leesburg controlled the ball for a minute without getting an opportunity to shoot. Fouls by both teams dominated the first quarter and slowed play as they combined for 14 personals. Blake took a led 9-5 after the first quarter.
Leesburg then began a torrid streak that included three treys to take a 29-21 lead into halftime. Teron Wallace made two of those and scored 17 points total. D’Mauri Jones led Leesburg with 18.
Blake would open the second half with a 9-2 run to pull within one, on the strength of a trey by senior guard Andre Smith and three field goals by junior swingman Brandon Channer. Indeed, Blake, as they had all year, relied on Channer and Smith. They combined for 15 of Blake’s 17 third quarter points. Channer led all scorers with 20 and Smith, who will play at Winthrop University next winter, added 16. Brewer blocked five Leesburg shots before fouling out in the fourth quarter.
Blake trailed just 47-43 with 5:17 left in the game, but Leesburg pulled away with superior rebounding and a few fast break points. As Blake slowed, Leesburg scored at will from the floor and the free throw line. Leesburg hit 11 of 17 from the charity stripe in the final quarter and shot 56% from the field in the second half.
As the outcome became apparent, the Blake team, coaches, and athletic director Jesse Salters showed great composure and pride at an unprecedented run to the FHSAA state final four in 4A classification. On the early afternoon drive from downtown Tampa to Lakeland, they noticed and appreciated the signs of “GO Blake basketball” hanging in plain sight along I-4 at Armwood and Strawberry Crest.
Blake head coach Winston Davis gave Leesburg all credit after the defeat. “They shot the ball better than expected. They did a good job. We missed a lot of shots.” Regarding Leesburg earning a 46-37 edge in total rebounds, “They out-hustled us. They outplayed us in that area.”
Blake assistant coach Charles Smith said of Leesburg, “They are a very solid team overall and the most impressive thing, ..is the fact they’re young. They have a lot of guys that will be returning to their team next year, ..and you just tip your hat to them.”
Regarding next year, Blake returning forward Clarence Peterson agreed that it starts tomorrow. “It’s very vital that we set the trend very early for the players coming up. [This loss] is going to affect us in a great way… making the final four, hopefully coming [back] next year and winning.”
Coach Davis had these final words about his players who lifted a community with their spirited playoff run. “They are dedicated. They work hard. They are good kids. They do what they are supposed to do in the classroom, at home, in the hallways. They gave us everything they had.”