Ely girls’ basketball team beats Winter Haven at the buzzer to reach Class 6A final

The Blanche Ely girls played perhaps their worst game of the season in the Class 6A state semifinal against Winter Haven.

Then Mekhia Lumsdon saved the Tigers’ season and chance for the team’s first state title since 1992 with a game-winning layup at the buzzer for a 55-53 victory at the RP Funding Center on Thursday.

It was the Tigers’ 17th consecutive win.

Ely (27-6) will play Wekiva for the state championship on Saturday at 5:30 p.m.

“This was a good win,” Lumsdon said. “Never did I think it would come down to a buzzer-winning shot. We didn’t play a good game at all.”

The basket was Lumsdon’s only points of the game.

“The resilience that we had, the patience and the will to win was about fighting to the last buzzer,” Ely coach Henry McNabb said. “These girls work so hard. I’m lost for words,and we’re fortunate to be playing in the final.”

Ely trailed the enter second half, and when leading scorer Ja’Leah Williams fouled out with 2:50 left in the game, the chance dimmed for the Tigers’ title hopes.

Michiyak Simmons tied the score at 53-53 with a basket and four shot with 28.1 seconds remaining.

Winter Haven (22-9) had an opportunity to win but missed the shot.

Ely committed 21 turnovers and shot just 36.1 percent from the field and still found a way to win.

Williams led the Tigers with 17 points, and Zaria Blake added 15 points.

The Tigers looked anything but sharp in the first half despite opening on an 8-0 run.

Sloppy play led to many unforced turnovers. In addition, poor shooting allowed Winter Haven to battle back while outscoring Ely 21-11 the rest of half for a surprising 21-19 lead at the break.

Ely made only 1-of-15 attempts from the field in the second quarter, including missing all nine three-point attempts.

This story was originally published February 27, 2020 at 10:19 PM.