LAKELAND — Sanford Seminole and Miramar posted victories Friday afternoon to punch their tickets to Saturday’s Class 7A state championship game.
Seminole blitzed West Palm Beach Forest Hill, 80-59, while Miramar took down Orlando Oak Ridge, 59-55 in overtime. Both Seminole and Miramar will be gunning for the first state championship in school history.
Iowa State, Oklahoma State, Independence CC and Warner were among the colleges who has coaches at the RP Funding Center Friday.
SEMINOLE DEFENSE STYMIES FOREST HILL
Senior guard Amaire Perkins scored 24 points in Seminole’s semifinal victory. The Seminoles forced Forest Hill into 23 turnovers — 22 coming in the final three quarters.
Forest Hill also had a rough shooting day, connecting on only 23 of 70 field-goal attempts (3 for 21 from 3).
Perkins shot 9 of 20 from the floor and also had 4 steals. He has a college offer from George Mason. He has also been contacted by UCF and Appalachian State.
Asked what is important to him on the next level, Perkins said: “Defense and playing team ball. Being a good leader and stepping up in that role.”
2021 Donovan Draper posted a double-double for Forest Hill with 12 points and 17 rebounds. Jonathan Mogbo had 9 points and 15 rebounds.
WALKING WOUNDED
Seminole has three key players nursing injuries going into the championship game vs. Miramar on Saturday.
Sophomore twins Demari and Jacari Henderson have big toe and hand injuries, respectively. Demari played almost 23 minutes Friday and had 4 points; Jacari played 12 1/2 minutes and scored 5 points. They both were hurt in the regional semifinals. Erric Wynn Jr. turned his ankle Friday.
SCHOOL HISTORY FOR MIRAMAR
Miramar advanced to the state championship game for the first time in school history.
The Patriots canned 9 of 10 free throws in the overtime period to eliminate Oak Ridge.
Senior Michael Lott led three Miramar players in double-digits with 14 points. Six-foot junior Khamaury McMillan added 12 points and Citadel guard signee Brent Davis had 11.
2021 Michael James led Oak Ridge with 27 points before going down with a leg injury on the final play of regulation. The 6-5 James could not put any weight on his left leg when he was helped off the court.
James has offers from FAU, FGCU, Hofstra, Texas A&M, Wake Forest and USF.
Oak Ridge is a young club. Only one senior played substantial minutes.
CLASS 2A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
ORLANDO CHRISTIAN PREP 58, JACKSONVILLE IMPACT CHRISTIAN 44: Down 34-33 starting the fourth quarter, OCP outscored Impact Christian 25-10 in the fourth to win its eighth state championship.
Sophomore Ven-Allen Lubin finished with 16 points and 9 rebounds for OCP (29-2). Eric Butler added 12 points and A.J. Brown 10.
The Warriors canned 21 of 39 field-goal attempts and outrebounded Impact 28-18.
OCP’s two losses were to Daytona Beach Mainland in its third game of the season and to St. Benedict’s Prep, of New Jersey.
Warner University guard recruit Jordin Jackson led Impact Christian (19-9) with 14 points.
FRIDAY’S SCORES
7A semifinals: Miramar 59, Orlando Oak Ridge 55 (OT)
7A semifinals: Sanford Seminole 80, West Palm Beach Forest Hill 59
2A championship game: OCP 58, Impact Christian 44
1A championship game: Hawthorne 42, Hilliard 38
SATURDAY’S SCHEDULE
10:00 — 3A championship: St. Andrew’s vs. Andrew Jackson
12:30 — 4A championship: Stranahan vs. Tampa Catholic
3:00 — 5A championship: Rickards vs. Pines Charter
5:30 — 6A championship: Dillard vs. Bartow
8:00 — 7A championship: Miramar vs. Seminole
THURSDAY’S SCORES
4A semifinals: Fort Lauderdale Stranahan 59, Jacksonville Paxon 54
4A semifinals: Tampa Catholic 65, Lake Highland Prep 54
5A semifinals: Rickards 59, Sebring 44
5A semifinals: Pembroke Pines Charter 81, Naples 71
6A semifinals: Fort Lauderdale Dillard 71, Lake City Columbia 66 (2 OTs)
6A semifinals: Bartow 68, East Lake 57
WEDNESDAY’S SCORES
2A semifinals: Jacksonville Impact Christian 56, Miami Schoolhouse Prep 54 (OT)
2A semifinals: Orlando Christian Prep 74, Tampa Bayshore Christian 53
1A semifinals: Hilliard 80, Vernon 59
1A semifinals: Hawthorne 70, Paxton 58
3A semifinals: Boca St. Andrew’s 68, Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna 58
3A semifinals: Jacksonville Andrew Jackson 65, Community School of Naples 53
If you have high school or travel basketball news, you can reach Pat Lammer at PatALammer@Gmail.com
