Class 3A, Region 2 Quarterfinal: Seffner Christian clips Berkeley Prep
The Class 3A, Region 2 Quarterfinal between Seffner Christian and Berkeley Prep was worth the wait. After Berkeley Prep beat Seffner Christian both times this season including in the district title last Friday 56-53. However, matchup No. 3 was not…
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Continue ReadingThe Class 3A, Region 2 Quarterfinal between Seffner Christian and Berkeley Prep was worth the wait.
After Berkeley Prep beat Seffner Christian both times this season including in the district title last Friday 56-53. However, matchup No. 3 was not the same. Seffner Christian came to Berkeley Prep and won 61-59 on Thursday night without its leading scorer 2021 6’5″ guard Mike Trigg.
2021 5’10” guard Cobey Quarterman hit the game-winning three with just under five seconds left in the game.
The game winning 3 from 2021 Seffner Christian Hayes Cobey Quarterman was clutch. @SCA_Basketball @asset_team @BobbyHomeTeam pic.twitter.com/UtKvoWi8dN
— ᴊᴀᴋᴇ ᴘᴇʀᴘᴇʀ (@JakePerper) February 21, 2020
Here is a look at the notes from the region quarterfinal tilt.
Quarterman saves the day
As mentioned above, Quarterman (9 points) had the game-winning triple to lift Seffner Christian to victory. He had a 3-pointer from the corner earlier in the fourth quarter as well. He is a good spot-up shooter and we saw that in this one. Fellow 2021 5’11” guard Isaiah Reed had 11 points and was the main ballhandler who got to the rack early in the game when it was a low scoring tilt.
Jones and Livingston play tough
Down 24-18 with 1:09 left in the second quarter, 2021 6’5″ guard Willie Jones connected on back to back 3’s to tie the game heading into the half. Then, Seffner Christian proceeded to go on a 17-0 run that lasted until late in the third quarter. The combination of Jones (20 points) and 2022 6’6″ forward Tony Livingston (15 points) really made Seffner Christian go. They both went for boards, had buckets that drew fouls and fought for second chance points.
Ajjarapu was on fire in 4Q
Nothing was stopping 2020 6’4″ Coast Guard signee Varun Ajjarapu in the fourth quarter. He totaled 26 points in the game including six 3’s. Four of those came with under two minutes left in the game including three in a row as Berkeley Prep trailed 54-53 with 1:09 left. His next and final 3-pointer put the Buccaneers down 57-56 with just under 26.2 seconds left. Ajjarapu is a dangerous shooter and a very crafty attacker. He will fare well at the Division III level, no doubt.
Karnes nearly wins it
With just under 20 seconds left, Karnes went inside and put his down for a huge bucket which he converted into a 3-point play to put Berkeley Prep ahead 59-58 (video here). He was held to nine points but continued to battle with his transition play, passing and pure determination. Karnes would make any Division II or Division III program happy if he chooses to play basketball at the next level.
A look ahead
Seffner Christian, the No. 4 seed in the region pulled off the upset and will now travel to Fort Myers to play No. 6 seeded Canterbury who upset No. 3 seed Bradenton Christian. Jones, Livington, Quarterman and Reed will have to carry the load for the Crusaders against a three-headed trio of 2020 6’7″ forward Jovan Kojic, 2021 6’3″ guard Chase Garrett and 2021 5’11” guard Alan Cedeno for Canterbury.