Verot, FM bow out of playoffs
The boys’ basketball FHSAA Finals begin at the Lakeland Center Wednesday, but the Bishop Verot Vikings and Fort Myers Green Wave will not be there.
Tampa Catholic hit a series of three-pointers in the second quarter to grab the lead and held off the Vikings down the stretch for a 57-54 victory Saturday night in the Region 3A-3 finals at Verot.
The Green Wave’s quest to repeat as the Class 4A state champions was derailed Saturday night by Tampa Blake, which knocked off the Wave 74-65 in the Region 4A-3 final.
The home court defeat leaves the Vikings and Green Wave thinking about next year.
Class 1A, 2A and 3A semifinals tip off on Wednesday, starting at 10 a.m. with Class 1A. Tampa Catholic faces Orlando Jones in the Class 3A semifinals and the last of six games tipping off at 8:30 p.m. The championship games in all three classes are on Thursday.
Class 4A, 5A and 6A semifinals tip off on Friday, starting at 10 a.m. Tampa Blake faces Leesburg in the second 4A semifinal at 2:30 p.m. The championship games in all three classes are on Saturday.
“We had our chances to beat them,” lamented Vikings coach Matt Herting. “It is what it is.”
After the Vikings (22-8) took a 13-5 lead at the end of the first quarter, the Crusaders hit six three-pointers in the second quarter to forge ahead 29-24 at halftime. The Crusaders struggled offensively after that, but managed to hang onto the lead until the Vikings tied the game 46-46 with four minutes remaining.
Another three-pointer by Lashawn Harrison, who finished with a game-high 25 points, gave the Crusaders the lead for good 52-47 with less than three minutes remaining.
Michael Matthews sank two free throws, his only points of the night, with 43 seconds left to give the Crusaders a 56-51 cushion.
Nate Howard’s two free throws with 18 seconds left pulled the Vikings within 56-54, but Harrison hit one of two free throws with 17 seconds left to establish the margin of victory.
The Vikings tried to work for the tying three-pointer as the final seconds ticked off the clock, but Jason Hoop’s three-pointer at the buzzer caromed off the rim.
Howard finished with 14 points and nine rebounds to lead three Vikings in double figures. Mason Taylor added 13 points and Ricky Doyle had 12 points and 11 rebounds.
T. Catholic 5 24 13 16 – 57
Bishop Verot 13 11 12 18 – 54
CATHOLIC 57 – Harrison 25, Thomas 4, Mokris 3, Corbett 10, Rubio 7, Aguila 6, Matthews 2.
VEROT 54 – Wagner 9, Taylor 13, Reeves 3, Hoop 1, Doyle 12, Howard 14, Brittenham 2.