Dillard nearly blows late lead, survives

LAUDERDALE LAKES — Dillard held a 16-point lead over Boyd Anderson at two different points in the third quarter Tuesday night. But over the course of the last quarter and a half, the Panthers saw that lead whittle down.

First, the Cobras cut the deficit to single digits. Then, they got within six at the end of the third quarter. Near the end of the fourth, the Panthers’ lead was down to one.

But Dillard (20-6) clung to its lead, holding on to secure a 55-51 road victory over Boyd Anderson (17-10) in the Class 7A boys basketball regional semifinals.

“We knew they were going to make a comeback,” Dillard coach Darryl Burrows said. “It was important for us to come out and play a really good third quarter because we knew, at some point, they were going to make that push.”

The Cobras, who beat Dillard for the District 14-7A crown, were ice cold on offense for the first half, scoring only six points in the first quarter and ending the half down nine. That continued into the third quarter, as the Panthers built the lead to 16.

But Boyd Anderson senior Floyd Rideau Jr. wasn’t going to let his team go down without a fight. The senior didn’t notch a basket in the first half, but he scored 19 points in the second half, including 14 in the third quarter, which kept the Cobras in the game.

Panthers guard Deshawn Bartley kept Boyd Anderson from coming all the way back. With Dillard up 51-50, the Cobras fouled Bartley twice. He notched all four free throws, which secured the victory. Bartley finished the game with 17 points.

“I practice them every day,” Bartley said. “I’ve got to knock them down.”

The Panthers’ victory puts them one win from a trip to Lakeland. Dillard will face reigning Class 7A champion Doral Academy on the road in the regional finals on Friday at 7 p.m.

“We’ve got to get to that one [victory],” Burrows said. “That one is going to be a tough one. … That game is going to be a highintensity game.”