Dillard returns to final

With a minute and 40 seconds left in the third quarter Thursday, Dillard clung to a 50-49 advantage.

From there on, the Panthers showed why they are the defending state champions, ending its Class 7A semifinal on a 29-5 run to put away Ocala Vanguard, 79-54, on Thursday at the Lakeland Center.

The Panthers (27-4) — the Class 6A state champions a season ago — will face Orlando Edgewater (23-8) for the 7A title at 3 p.m. Saturday. Edgewater crushed Lehigh, 83-53, in its semifinal behind 26 points from Louisville commitment Anfernee Simons.

“We knew we needed to come out in the second half and play some defense,” said coach Darryl Burrows, who will be going for his seventh state crown Saturday. “That this was a legitimate team that deserved to be in Lakeland.”

Dillard clamped down on Devontae Bynes and Vanguard in the final 9:40. The Knights finished the game shooting 21-for-46 from the field after the hot start and Bynes had but one bucket in the second half to end the game with 15 points.

The Panthers also caused 19 Vanguard turnovers. Seth Coddington had four steals, while Jordan Wright and RaiQuan Gray had three apiece.

Wright, who is headed to Kentucky next year, and Gray, a Florida State signee, had big games on offense as well. Wright finished with 24 points on 12-for-16 shooting and had eight rebounds. Gray totaled 20 points and eight boards.

Coddington, a junior, also had 10 points.