AROUND THE STATE BASKETBALL

CLASS 5A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP: UNIVERSITY SCHOOL 80, TRINITY CATHOLIC 40

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NO LUCK NEEDED FOR SHARKS VERSUS CELTICS

LAKELAND – The University School Sharks are the apex predators of Class 5A following a complete dismantling of Trinity Catholic from Ocala. Following their untimely exit in the 5A Regional Semifinals versus Calvary Christian last season, Head Coach Adrian Sosa vowed their season wasn’t going to end in the same fashion.

Trinity Catholic’s perimeter game was going to have to be picture-perfect in order to compete for a title, but perfect they were anything-but. Counter the Celtics chilly start to the game with U-School’s ability to get to the rim with ease, and you’ve got a recipe for a blowout, which is what the game was on the verge of by the end of the first quarter, with the Sharks leading 23-6.

Get from under the rim. 📽 Scott Barnes, University School #hooplife #dunks

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As Trinity Catholic tried to shoot themselves out of the funk, things went from bad to worse, with the Sharks taking a 42-18 lead into the locker rooms for the halftime break. Once the Sharks got back to the court for the third quarter, they went ahead and buried the Celtics for good taking a 34-point lead into the final eight minutes.

A pair of senior transfers from Georgia lead the Sharks on the evening in scoring, with Trey Doomes and Drue Drinnon leading the way for all scores with 26 and 15 respectively. Cardinal Newman transfer and sophomore guard Scottie Barnes added 8, while Vernon Carey Jr., the nation’s #1-ranked 2020 player added 13 along with some spectacular dunks. Junior point guard Dominic Pugh led the Celtics with 13 in the losing effort.

In an interesting sidebar, University School’s complete and utter domination of Tampa Catholic and Trinity Catholic has earned them of the most unique statistics in state finals history. When you combine U-School’s combined 75 point total differential in the semifinals and finals, their margins of victory are the largest combined victories in finals history.

Trinity Catholic returns to Ocala posting a 22-9 season and with every player on their roster returning. University School finishes their phenomenal season at 33-1, their lone blemish coming to nationally-ranked Oak Hill Academy.

Doug Pugh, BCP Contributor