Grenadiers’ postseason run ends
LAKELAND — Colonial’s Cinderella run through the Class 7A playoffs came to a screeching halt Friday at RP Funding Center.
The Grenadiers (24-7) provided little resistance against Miami Columbus (25-4), the defending champs in Class 7A, which blew the game open in the second quarter and won 71-28.
“Felt like Davis versus Goliath a little bit out there,” Grenadiers coach Gary McDaniel said. “Great athletes on the other side.
“We felt like we had our fair share of great athletes, but when you go to a big event like this for the first time, sometimes the stage is a little bigger than what you realize.”
Explorers standout sophomore Cameron Boozer had 22 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and two blocks. His twin brother Cayden had 11 points, eight rebounds and five assists. They are the sons of longtime NBA player Carlos Boozer.
“He’s going to be a pro,” McDaniel said of Cameron Boozer. “He truly is one of the top players in the country right now . ... He’s a special player.”
Junior forward Malik Abdullahi also scored in double figures for Columbus with 12 points.
Senior guard Dominic Sanders led the Grenadiers with 14 points in his final high school game. No other player had more than four points for Colonial.
The Explorers pulled their starters late in the third quarter.
Heading into Friday, the Grenadiers allowed just above 46 points per game.
“Their size and versatility would be a problem for anyone,” McDaniel
said. “They have triple-threat players [dribble, pass and shoot] that are 6-9 and 6-8.”
The Grenadiers trailed by 13 points at the end of the first quarter. Back-to-back baskets from Colonial cut the deficit to 27-12 with 3 minutes, 55 seconds left in the half. Columbus closed the second quarter on a 16-0 run to lead 43-12 at the break.
The Explorers got a running clock with 4:31 left in the third quarter on a basket from Cayden Boozer.
Colonial’s final four appearance seemed improbable when it only won two games in the 202021 season. In McDaniel’s second season at the helm, the Grenadiers had double-digit wins over Lake Brantley and Evans to clinch its spot in Lakeland.
“They were coming off a 23-game losing streak and I went in there with a plan,” McDaniel said. “Two years later, with kids like Dominic and a lot of work and a lot of things going our way, we made it out here today in Lakeland.”