WESTSIDE – Senior Fable Burden lead all scorers with 16 points as his Impact Christian Lions made short work of the Beaches Chapel Lions 80-23 in the District 2-2A title game Friday night at First Coast Christian.
Burden lifted the burden from his team early on by scoring 8 first quarter points, including two three-pointers. His teammate, sophomore Calvin Johnson scored 9 points in the quarter as Impact roared out to a staggering 30-2 first quarter lead.
It would act as a prelude to the eventual outcome of the game, as Impact dominated every phase of the contest going on to the blowout victory. Johnson would finish with 12 points in the game, junior Antonio Williams added 11 points and junior Jordin Jackson scored 10 points for Impact.
Impact Christian’s athletic playmakers lead them to an 80-23 victory tonight over the Beaches Chapel! Crowned District 2-2A Champs again! pic.twitter.com/GgBtLSlJ5A
— Duval Sports ™️ (@DuvalSports) February 16, 2019
The outcome was never in question before the game as Impact boasted size, speed and experience advantages across the board. After all, Impact did make it all the way to the Class 2A State Championship game last year, falling to Miami Christian.
Yet the Beaches Chapel was experiencing a special season in their own right. Their 17-10 record was the best in the program’s young history; and fresh off of their FCAL tournament victory recently, Head Coach Mark Ivy has coached his team to achieve new bests. Noah Prestia led them with 15 points versus Impact.
Said Coach Ivy after the game, “I told them we would be like Drake, we’d start from the bottom and now we’re here”.
Their runner-up finish is the first in school’s history.
However, in a primal match up of two Lions only one could be crowned king, and on this night it would be the more experienced team with the more experienced coach in Ben Jones. Jones has guided Impact to three straight winning seasons. Before that, he was the architect of the Ed White basketball machine, which won a Gateway Conference championship and also made the Final Four as well as numerous playoff appearances.
Now he looks to return his team to the biggest game in the state. When asked what his team needs to get over the hump and win the title he responded, ” We have to be playing our best basketball at the right time.”
Well his team got off to a great start Friday night, advancing to the playoffs in impressive fashion by playing championship basketball. Now they look toward Lakeland eyeing revenge against Miami Christian.
