2A State Final: CFCA earns first state championship
Three FHSAA classifications crowned state champions Tuesday at the 2019 Boys State Basketball Tournament at RP Funding Center in Lakeland. 3A state championship (Tallahassee) St. John Paul II 50, Orlando Christian Prep 48 (OT) 2A state championship (Orlando) Central Florida…
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Continue ReadingThree FHSAA classifications crowned state champions Tuesday at the 2019 Boys State Basketball Tournament at RP Funding Center in Lakeland.
3A state championship
(Tallahassee) St. John Paul II 50, Orlando Christian Prep 48 (OT)
2A state championship
(Orlando) Central Florida Christian Academy 72, (Jacksonville) North Florida Educational 67
1A state championship
Madison County 62, Wildwood 60 (OT)
Here are 5 Takeaways from the Class 2A state championship game:
CFCA: From 4-9 to state champs
Central Florida Christian Academy, out of Orlando, took the 2A title to win its first state championship in school history. The Eagles had made the state championship in 1997 but lost in the finals. CFCA played a rigorous schedule and was 4-9 in mid-January before putting everything together and finishing 21-10. Eagles coach Jonathan McClintock said he believes in playing anybody any time. “Adversity like that will cause you do fracture or solidify into something greater than yourself,” McClintock said.
Preaster pours in 30
Versatile 6-foot-5 senior Jordan Preaster lit North Florida Educational up for 30 points in the title game.
NFE’s guards could not contain Preaster. The Bethune-Cookman signee connected on 13 of 24 shots from the field. He also had 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals. “I’m an aggressive slasher that can find open teammates at the right time. I can play the [No.] 1 through the 4.”
Trio accounts for all but 2 points
Seniors Jordan Preaster, Bryce Street and Anterrius Washington accounted for 70 of CFCA’s 72 points Tuesday. Street shot 6 of 9 — including 4 of 6 from 3-point range — and made 9 of 10 free throws for 25 points. Washington went 6 for 11 from the field and finished with 15 points, 7 steals and 6 rebounds. 2020 Jajaun Preaster scored the only other 2 points. Street said the early difficult schedule brought the team together and humbled the squad. “Those losses kind of helped us in a weird way,” Street said. Street, a 6-1 guard, and Washington, a 6-6 wing, are both still hoping to find a fit on the next level.
Not enough stops
North Florida Educational coach Stacey Poole Jr. said the difference Tuesday was defensive stops. “The first half, played ugly basketball,” Poole said of a contest that was tied 31-all at the intermission. “Second half it was just all about stops. I feel like we didn’t get enough stops.” The NFE defense allowed CFCA to hit 16 of 27 field-goal attempts (59 percent) over the final two quarters. Nineteen total turnovers also did not help. 2020 PF Deangelo Elisee and 2021 G Saevion Brown led North Florida Educational with 17 and 16 points, respectively.
NFE leadership
Coach Stacey Poole Jr. is the son of Stacey Poole Sr., who starred in the Southeastern Conference at the University of Florida. Poole Sr. is the founder of North Florida Educational in Jacksonville.
If you have high school basketball news, you can reach Pat Lammer via text at 954-661-9671.