Leesburg takes
CLASS 6A CHAMPIONSHIP: LEESBURG 57, MARINER 53
down Cape Coral Mariner to land its third state championship.
LAKELAND — They say it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.
Leesburg didn’t follow that old axiom the way it wanted to, but the Yellow Jackets prevailed in Saturday afternoon’s Class 6A boys basketball state championship game because they bolted out of the starting blocks like a worldclass sprinter.
Leesburg (23-6) built a big first half lead and then held on to score a 57-53 victory vs. Cape Coral Mariner (23-8).
The Yellow Jackets had only nine players and played seven most of the way but fought fatigue to the finish line to claim their program’s third FHSAA state championship.
Sophomore guard Lance Eving led Leesburg with 20 points, including a crucial 3-point shot that stopped a Mariner third quarter surge that had sliced an 18-point lead down to 41-36.
Cordrayius Graham, a junior guard who learned on Sunday that his family’s house in Leesburg caught fire and burned down, scored 17 points in the win.
“I’m just thankful for basketball,” Graham said. “My week ended good.”
Leesburg, with one senior and no true post player, finished the season on a 17-game winning streak.
“I’m just so proud of my kids,” said fourth-year Leesburg coach Sean Campbell. “We fought so hard for this game. We’ve really had to battle throughout this year.”
Mariner owned the size advantage. But it was quick feet and quick hands that mattered early on, as the Yellow Jackets turned numerous steals into scores.
The Tritons started the game with seven empty possessions and found themselves down 14-0 before finally scoring with just over a minute remaining in the first quarter. Leesburg led by 17 at the half (38-21).
“We didn’t play against anybody that gets in the passing lanes as much as they do. It was kind of a shock,” said Mariner guard Sean Kostyk.
Campbell, an alum of Evans and FSU, said his goal when Leesburg gave him his first head coaching opportunity was to bring the Yellow Jackets back to state championship status.
Leesburg also won championships in 1977 and 2011.