State Playoff Preview: Class 8A
The season wraps up in Lakeland next week. For Class 8A, the semifinals will be played on Friday, starting at 12 p.m. The final comes on Saturday night at 5:30 p.m. Here is a state Final Four preview for 8A.…
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Continue ReadingThe season wraps up in Lakeland next week. For Class 8A, the semifinals will be played on Friday, starting at 12 p.m. The final comes on Saturday night at 5:30 p.m.
Here is a state Final Four preview for 8A.
Game 1
Lincoln at Palm Beach Lakes (12 p.m.)
How they got here: Lincoln beat Creekside 62-61; Palm Beach Lakes beat McArthur 70-53
Lincoln (26-3) just got by Creekside on Friday night in a one-point overtime win. This is the second straight state tournament trip for the Trojans. Senior Dwight Wilson finished with a team-best 20 points while junior Trinton Bryant added 15 to advance. Lincoln will square off with a Palm Beach Lakes (25-3) group that is back in the state semifinals for the first time since 2005. Senior Lavorris Givens is fresh off a 26-point game while senior Daiquan Wyatt recorded 13 points.
Game 2
Sickles vs. Lakewood Ranch (2 p.m.)
How they got here: Sickles beat Melbourne 55-49; Lakewood Ranch beat St. Pete 73-58
Sickles (28-4) finds themselves in the state tournament for the first time in seven years. Senior Bryce Beamer had a team-high 16 points while senior Marcus Cohen and junior Bryce Workman each scored seven points in the region final win on Friday. After falling to St. Pete a year ago in the region final, Lakewood Ranch (27-2) got revenge behind 24 points from senior Sam Hester. Junior Damien Gordon pitched in with 14 points despite battling foul trouble.
Photo credit: Bradenton Herald