Pine Crest boys get rematch vs. P.K. Yonge

BY FABIAN LYONflyon@MiamiHerald.com

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• What: FHSAA boys' basketball finals.

• When: Through Saturday.

• Where: The Lakeland Center, 701 Lime Street.

• Directions: Take the I-75 (North) to I-4 East (exit 259). Take Exit 32 and head south to Lime Street. Make a right and drive two blocks until you see the arena on your right.

• Thursday's results -- Class 2A semifinals: Jacksonville Arlington Country Day 51, Community School of Naples 41; Weston Sagemont 46, Pensacola Christian 29; Class 4A semifinals: Monsignor Pace 69, Pensacola Washington 54; Lakeland Kathleen 72, Eustis 69; Class 6A semifinals: Norland 62, Winter Springs 61; No. 1 Lauderdale Lakes Boyd Anderson 78, Orlando Evans 45.

• Friday's schedule -- Class 1A final: No. 2 Grandview Prep (28-1) vs. No. 1 Orlando Christian Prep, noon; Class 3A final: No. 1 Pine Crest (27-4) vs. Gainesville P.K. Yonge (25-6), 3:30 p.m.; Class 5A final: No. 1 Dillard (28-2) vs. N. 5 St. Pete Lakewood (29-2), 7 p.m.

• Saturday's schedule -- Class 2A final: No. 1 Jacksonville Arlington Country Day (22-9) vs. Sagemont (24-7), noon; Class 4A final: No. 5 Monsignor Pace (22-9) vs. No. 3 Lakeland Kathleen (24-4), 3:30 p.m.; Class 6A final: No. 4 Norland (25-6) vs. Boyd Anderson (30-1), 7 p.m.

While it's still too early to etch their name on the Florida High School Athletic Association's Class 3A state championship trophy, the Pine Crest boys' basketball team seems all but destined to win their first state title at the Lakeland Center on Friday.

After making quick work of Marianna 77-57 in the 3A semifinals Wednesday, the top-ranked Panthers (27-4) will take on P.K. Yonge (25-6) in the Championship game Friday afternoon.

The Blue Wave, which spoiled the Panthers' Final Four debut in the state semifinals last season, advanced with a 51-45 victory against Fort Myers Dunbar (21-8).

To some, Pine Crest cleared its biggest hurdle when it beat District rival American Heritage in the Regional Finals on Feb. 23.

Pine Crest coach David Beckerman, however, said the leadership provided by Ed Waite, Jeff Pelage and Brandon Knight, has kept the Panthers from looking too far ahead.

''You are looking at three young men that have kept us focused,'' Beckerman said. ``We have a mission. We have almost achieved that mission. It was to win district, regional, go to states and win a state championship.''

There is no telling what record Pine Crest would bring into the Finals had star guard Brandon Knight, who is averaging 21 points, 8 rebounds and 7.5 assists, not missed the first 14 games of the season to recover from cyst surgery.

Pine Crest went 10-4 in Knight's absence and has looked near unstoppable since his return.

Talent aside, it is Pine Crest's willingness to share the ball that has propelled it to its second consecutive Final Four. The attention focused on stopping Knight, ranked the No. 2 prospect in the 2010 class by Rivals.com, has opened things up for Waite, Brandon Reese (12.3 ppg, 7.6 apg), Pelage (12.7 ppg, 13 rbg), Jeremiah Bell (10.4 ppg, 3 spg) and Trey Henry.

Waite is savoring every minute of the state experience after missing the Panthers' run to the Final four last year with a knee injury. He is averaging 15 points and 12 rebounds to re-establish himself as one of the top power forwards in Broward.

''We are a lot stronger than last year,'' Knight said. ``We kind of missed that inside presence with Ed. He brings a lot to this team. We are very confident that if we continue doing what we have been doing, everything will fall into place. We still have to win that last game.''

• Class 6A semifinals -- Norland 62, Winter Springs 61: Despite poor free-throw shooting down the stretch, Norland's boys' basketball team survived a strong rally to beat Winter Springs in a Class 6A state semifinal Thursday at the Lakeland Center.

Norland, ranked fourth in Class 6A, will attempt to win its second state title in three years Saturday.

Senior forward Antonio Hester led the Vikings (25-6) with 25 points and 12 rebounds.

• Class 4A semifinals -- Pace 69, Pensacola Washington 54: Monsignor Pace senior guard Ray Shipman scored a game-high 33 points and almost single-handedly sparked a 15-0 second-half run that propelled Pace.

Pace (22-9), which is making its sixth straight state appearance, will take on Lakeland Kathleen in the final at 3:30 p.m. Saturday. The Spartans beat Kathleen to win the state title last season.

BASEBALL

PIPER 4, CORAL SPRINGS 3

CS 101 000 1 --3 6 2 Pip 000 200 2 --4 6 3 WP: Jon Quick (3-0). LP: T.J. Clarkson. Top performers: Quick struck out seven. Steven Singleton went 2 for 2 with a game winning single. Ryan Rodriguez had a two run triple. Records: Piper 4-1.

 

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