Lake Brantley, Oak Ridge win tight quarterfinals
Lake Brantley’s Landen Paquette crashed to the floor as he was fouled on a fastbreak layup attempt with 4:48 to go in a tight boys basketball region quarterfinal game against Sanford Seminole on Thursday night.
The 6-foot-3 junior, essential for the Patriots as a high-energy power forward, limped off the court while rubbing his right hip. That hard landing didn’t keep Brantley’s football fullback out for long and his return with his team trailing made the difference.
Paquette snatched an offensive rebound and was fouled again on his shot attempt with 1.4 seconds remaining. He missed the first free throw but made the must-have second shot to force an overtime that allowed Lake Brantley to prevail 64-61 and advance to the semifinal round in the wide open Class 7A Region 1 tournament.
Paquette muscled in a bank shot to open the scoring in OT and added the winning points with 16 seconds to go with a breakaway dunk after he and teammate Lucas Williams combined to force a Seminole turnover.
“Holy smokes, what a game,” Lake Brantley coach Mike Cuff said afterward. “We just made one more play.”
The Seminoles (19-9) missed two 3-point shot attempts in the closing seconds and Lake Brantley players were gleefully joined by their student section to celebrate the victory.
“Being at home is a crazy advantage for us because the crowd and our band are so loud,” senior guard Nolan Moran said.
The fourth-seeded Patriots must travel for
Tuesday’s game against No. 1 seed Colonial (23-6), which won 66-60 against St. John’s Creekside. Dominick Sanders had 25 points, 5 steals and 4 assists for Colonial. Stitch Timo added 19 points and 9 rebounds.
“Anybody can win this region,” Cuff said.
Eric Vandendriessche, a 6-5 senior, led Lake Brantley (20-8) with 19 points and 8 rebounds. He made a 3 and a dunk in the final four minutes and leaped out of bounds to save a rebound and tossed the ball to Williams, who made a crucial 3.
Moran added 17 points, 12 on 3s. Paquette finished with 7 points and 8 rebounds and Williams scored 11.
Seminole, which had a 10-game win streak snapped, got a yeoman effort from Kansas State track signee Tyrique Lewis, who had 10 points, 9 rebounds and 6 blocks. Junior guard Josiah Shackelford scored 14 points in the loss and ‘Noles sophomore Jorden Pittman had 3 made 3s in the fourth quarter.
Elsewhere in Region 1, No. 2 Evans (16-10) won 69-53 against Lake Mary and No. 3 Hagerty (23-5) won 60-41 over Ocoee as all four home teams prevailed.
Evans, which will host Hagerty on Tuesday, had all five starters in double figures for points, led by Eberson Charles (19).
— Buddy Collings
Oak Ridge survives
Oak Ridge (17-9) kept its season alive with a 58-54 home win against Wellington (20-6) in rugged 7A Region 2.
The No. 3 seed Pioneers’ balance prevailed as four juniors scored in double figures. Elijah Elliott led the way with 13 points. Tyler Johnson added 12 and Jordan Tillery and sixth man Cameron Simpson each scored 11.
No. 6 Wellington also had four double-figure scorers and trailed by just one entering the final quarter.
“I didn’t think we scored the ball well tonight, but we found a way to get it done,” Oak Ridge coach Steve Reece said. “We played a well-coached Wellington team.”
Oak Ridge, No. 5 in the FHSAA 7A power rankings, will travel Tuesday to face No. 4 Lake Worth (22-1), which rolled past Harmony 62-37.
On the other side of the bracket top seed Olympia (26-2), ranked third, won 68-41 against Lake Nona; and No. 4 seed Windermere (20-7), ranked No. 7, scored a 73-65 road win against No. 9 Port St. Lucie Centennial.
— Jonathan Alfano
Other regions Class 6A Region 2
Top seed Wekiva (23-4) won 68-52 against Palm Bay Heritage and No. 3 Edgewater (17-10) got 20 points from Erik Taylor and outscored Lake Minneola 87-69 to set up a Tuesday rematch at Wekiva. Edgewater upset the Mustangs in district play last week.
Oviedo (16-12) lost 73-55 at Lakeland (23-4).
Class 5A Region 2
No. 1 Jones (14-11) routed Wesley Chapel 87-57 and No. 5 Leesburg (13-12) won 62-55 at Tampa Blake. The top seed Tigers will host the Yellow Jackets on Tuesday.
Class 4A Region 2
All three Orlando area teams were ousted.
Lake Highland Prep (16-12) lost 59-55 to visiting Cocoa.
Bishop Moore (14-13) lost 73-49 at Villages Charter.
Umatilla (21-6) lost 74-37 at North Marion.
Class 3A Region 1
The Master’s Academy stifled prolific shooter Kent Jackson of Jacksonville Episcopal with an aggressive diamond-and-one defense and scored a 75-59 homecourt win. The Eagles (22-6) had four players in double figures, led by Zion Mitchell (17 points) and Jaden Hugens (15). Master’s will travel to play 3A No. 1 Jacksonville Providence (26-2) on Tuesday.
Class 3A Region 1
Top seed Windermere Prep (21-7) had three starters foul out but still won 77-61 against Seffner Christian. Brandon Bass Jr. poured in 31 points for the Lakers, who will host North Palm Beach Benjamin (16-10) in Tuesday’s semifinal.
Foundation Academy finished 19-9 with a 59-39 loss at second seed Bell Creek Academy (24-4).
Class 2A Region 2
Isaiah Brown scored 26 points and three-time defending state champ Orlando Christian Prep (22-3) overwhelmed Zephyrhills Christian, 93-22. The Warriors stay at home for a semifinal against Mount Dora Christian (22-6), which beat Faith Christian 66-41 with Kycen Pruitt scoring 27 points.
Central Florida Christian Academy (18-10) won 77-57 against Legacy Charter to set up its Tuesday matchup with second seed Victory Christian (24-5) of Lakeland.