Lakeland- Many thought they were our best hopes at a state title in both girls and boys basketball. They had four D1 players, two four year varsity players, a decorated Head Coach who previously won a ring, and arguably the most dominant player from our area. Yet the then 29-1 Nease girls basketball team fell just short of the glory so richly deserving of their historic season. Falling at the hands of the 10-time State Champion Dillard (Ft. Lauterdale) Panthers 43-40.
Nease (29-2) and Dillard (26-5) played one of the most grueling defensive battles the state championship has seen this year. The 43-40 score was lower than every other championship game except the Class 1A matchup that saw Trenton defeat Holmes Co. 43-31. Nease averaged 65 points per game, while Dillard average 58 points per game. Two teams that could score the basketball, yet resorted to defense to decide the 7A champion.
The first half of the game was evenly matched as both teams attempted to adjust to each other’s style of play. After Nease star Camille Hobby scored the first basket of the game, Dillard would settle in and take a 12 to 9 advantage to the end of the first quarter. Nease would lock down the paint in the second quarter, and hold Dillard to just 6 points. At halftime it was a stalemate for both teams as Dillard clung to a 18-17 lead.
In the third quarter Dillard would make a run. Two 3-pointers from Chynna Mattair and two more from Kintaeja Ling helped them build a 37-28 lead over Nease. Dillard would receive big performances from two sophomores in the game as Ling led all scorers with 11 points.
Nease would not go quietly as Tia Robinson hit a big shot to end the third quarter. The shot was the third basket in a row for Nease as they closed the Dillard lead 37-32.
Late in the fourth, Peyton Carter would get the offensive put back to pull Nease to within one point with less than a minute to play. The decision to foul was made by Nease Coach Sherri Anthony forcing Dillard to shoot the one and one. Senior Genovea Johnson would hit both free throws to put her team up 43-40.
Fittingly, it would be two defensive plays that would take center stage in the contest. First Dillard’s Genovea Johnson would steal the ball thwarting a Nease attempt to tie the game. However, Nease’s Tia Robinson would steal the ball back from Dillard giving her team a chance to tie the game. Yet those efforts would would fall short as two three pointers by Stephanie Manherz and Kiya Turner missed their mark, giving Dillard the dramatic victory.
Coach Marcia Pinder of Dillard would celebrate her tenth state title all at Dillard. Ironically, their ten state titles are second only to Ribault who has twelve. A historic victory for one, would result in a heartbreaking defeat for another, as Nease’s date with history was deferred. However the team can hold their heads high knowing that they achieved tremendous accomplishments in what would be an historic year.
