Dry spell for region
Windermere Prep’s 3A title loss leaves Orlando area without a champ
LAKELAND — Windermere Prep’s offense sputtered in the FHSAA 3A state title game Saturday, a 51-27 loss to Miami Riviera Prep, leaving the Orlando area without a boys basketball champion for the first time in eight years.
The Lakers’ output was their lowest this season and the lowest in an FHSAA championship game since 1950, according to the FHSAA record book.
They nearly matched their points in turnovers with 26.
“I thought their defense was great,” Windermere Prep coach Brian Hoff said of Riviera Prep. “I thought they were in the passing lanes. Their passing-lane pressure affected a lot of the stuff we run and once they got in the passing lane, we were starting our offense from four feet higher than we really want to start it.”
With Windermere Prep’s loss, it marked the first time since 2015 that a team from Orlando didn’t win an FHSAA state title in boys basketball. Orlando Christian Prep lost its championship game on a free throw Friday. Colonial and Oak Ridge, the latter on a game-winning 3 at the horn, lost their Friday state semifinals. Jones, victim of a buzzer-beater as well, and Wekiva lost their semis Thursday.
Senior guard Aiden Fletcher led Windermere Prep (24-8) with 11 points and junior forward Chandler Watts had 7. Freshman guard, Brandon Bass Jr., who averaged just under 18 points per game this season, was held scoreless.
“We take it personal when people score on us,” Riviera Prep coach Anthony Shahbaz said. “We don’t like it. I don’t care how good you are … we’re going to make you earn every single point.”
The state title was Riviera Prep’s first in a team sport.
Sophomore 7-foot center Gustavo Guimaraes had 20 points and 8 rebounds for the Bulldogs (27-6) and sophomore forward Dante Allen had 14.
The Lakers led 5-2 after Watts made a layup through a foul and the free throw. Riviera went on an 8-0 run and led 10-7 after the first quarter.
In the second and third quarters, Windermere Prep scored
7 total points and trailed 32-14 heading into the final stanza.
“We have a very young team,” Hoff said. “This will motivate us. They’ve had an amazing experience being a part of this run, but I think they leave more hungry than anything.”
The Lakers’ run included winning the Windermere Prep Holiday Classic, the Battle at the Villages holiday tournament and the Citrus League championship.
They rode a five-game winning streak into Lakeland, where they upset No. 1-ranked Providence School of Jacksonville in the state semifinal 55-43 on Wednesday.
“It was a great experience,” siad Fletcher, one of two seniors playing his final high school game. “My first year in the program, it was shaky at first, but I think we all came together. The young guys put their trust in me and I put my trust in them.”