Regional Standouts SWFL, First Five

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>SWFL had a number of local teams compete in this year's state tournament, with Mariner and Charlotte heading to the Final Four. 15 total squads from the area made their run for a state championship but unfortunately came up short. We witnessed some tremendous games and performances being played throughout the postseason, now let's take a look at some of the the local standouts who helped lead their squads in the 2024 regionals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1457197"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Gateway's top scorer finished his career leading his eagles to a 22-4 record, 3-straight district championships, and a trip to the Regional Finals.  The 6'3u0022 CG averaged 23.6 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 3.2 apg, and 3.9 spg, as you can see the senior did a little bit of everything this season.  Cook continued his stellar regular season into regional play, where he recorded 18 pts, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists in a win over Estero, followed by a 23 pt, 8 rebound performance in a win over Brooksville Central, and concluded his career with a 16 pt, 6 rebound, and 4 assist effort in the Regional Championship loss to Gibbs.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1295962"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Rodriguez had himself a tremendous senior campaign, where he led FBA to 21-6 record and trip to the Regional Semi-Finals.  The 6'6u0022 senior has great size and strength from the guard position and isn't afraid to bang around down low either.  He can guard every position 1-5, and likes to finish around them rim, but also has a very nice touch from the outside.  Rodriguez had a dominate opening round performance in a win over Cardinal Mooney, where he recorded 22 points and 11 rebounds, and he was able to keep his Lions right with Berkeley Prep in the 2nd round, doing a little bit of everything, but eventually came up just short, ending an outstanding career for a great player.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["1620356"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Gateway Charter's big man in the middle had him a season for the ages.  The 6'8u0022 junior averaged 17 ppg and 11.2 rpg, to go along with an amazing 22 double-doubles on the year.  He is a tremendous rebounder on both ends of the floor and is extremely athletic, bringing the house down with some highlight reel dunks.  He helped lead his Griffins to a 22-8 record, back-to-back District Champs, and a trip to the Regional Final.  He recorded 26 pts and 15 rebounds in an opening round win, followed by a 10 pt, 15 rebound effort in a victory over Tampa Catholic where he battle some back issues.  Still dealing with the back, Johnson, left it all on the floor in the Regional Final loss to Berkeley Prep, where they came up just short losing by 3.  Keep an eye on this kid next year as he hopes to build on a tremendous junior campaign and lead his squad to Lakeland.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"Gabe Timmons","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"77244","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"Gateway Charter","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Timmons was the Griffins do-it-all guy all season, but really took his game to another level in regional play.  The 6'1u0022 CG seems to flirt with a triple-double night in and night out, and after winning his second-straight District Title, had himself an unbelievable run throughout the reginal tourney.  Timmons averaged 11.3 ppg, 6.2 rpg, and 4 apg, but really elevated his game in the first two rounds, where he just put his teammates on his back and would not be denied victory.  In the opening round he recorded 26 pts and 7 rebounds in a win over Bradenton Christian, then had an incredible outing against Tampa Catholic where he had 31 pts and 7 rebounds, but also a huge steal and clutch rebounds to seal the deal.  In the loss to Berkeley Prep, Timmons, did everything he could finishing with 16 pts in the 51-48 defeat, leaving him just 4 pts shy of 1,000 for his career.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"Gabe Markhart","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"6'7u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"77245","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Barron Collier","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Barron Collier's big man had himself a great senior campaign and continued that right through regional play.  Markhart helped the Cougar's to a District Championship and also a trip to the 5A Regional Semi-Finals.  The 6'7u0022 senior is a great compliment to Barron's strong guard play.  He is a strong kid with good size, and just knows how to play the game.  He has great knowledge of the game, and is a great two-way player, who is willing to do whatever it takes to win.  He averaged 11.1 ppg, 6.8 rpg, and 1.4 apg and earned himself a spot in the SFABC All-Star game.  In a first-round victory over Sebring he finished with 18 points and 8 rebounds, before playing a hard fought battle in a loss to Mariner in the semi-finals.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65e0a81fad6b2"} /-->