Lakeland, FL – It would have been a true Cinderella Story had the  Tampa  Prep Terrapins made it to the mountain top of the 2A  Classification. A  talented group of underclassmen was not enough to  offset The First  Academy of Orlando from turning Tampa Prep’s  carriage into a  pumpkin  by a 68-49 margin of victory.

The Royals were red-hot from the field shooting 53% with many of  those  coming on high percentage layups.  First Academy was paced  by  Junior  Guard Dillon Graham with 21 points. Tampa Prep was led  by  Sophomore  Ephraim Lavey’s 14 points. Sophomore Point Guard  Josh  Heath (Son of USF Head Coach Stan Heath) added 12 points.  It was their first loss in their last 17 games.

“That team was just a little more savvy than us today. They seemed to make the right play or gave the right pass at every turn in the ballgame,” said Head Coach Joe Fenlon.  “A lot has been made about our youth, but we’re not making any excuses. They beat us.” Fenlon is referring to the fact that his team returns 13 players next season from a team that just wrapped up a 25-4 season with 8 of those either Freshmen or Sophomores.  The Terrapins also managed to make their 9th Final Four appearance since 2000.

The game was never quite within Tampa Prep’s reach.  They were outscored in every quarter, and when trying to force the issue with their full court press, the Royals were easily breaking that with skip passes over the top of the trap. What most likely sealed the fate of the Terrapins was when leading scorer Devontae Morgan was saddled with 3 early fouls. That allowed First Academy to run a Box-in-1 on the Terrapins only real threat in Heath.

First Academy advances to the 2A State Title game tomorrow versus Sagemont, who were victorious in the first game over Port St. Joe.