Jacksonville Fl- It was the game of the night, and it lived up to all the billing as #1 Raines welcomed #2 Bishop Kenny to Jacksonville’s Northside for the FHSAA Regional Final. To the winner, a return trip to the State Semifinal as both teams made it to Lakeland last year. Raines losing in the Class 5A Final 4 to Oxbridge Academy 66-41, while Bishop Kenny lost to American Heritage 58-40 in the Class 6A Championship game. This match-up pitted both teams in a Class 4A clash as the scene was electric all the way up to the tip-off.
In the first quarter, Bishop Kenny built a slight lead thanks to free-throws. Jasmyne Roberts successfully penetrated and grabbed offensive rebounds to draw fouls. She converted all three of her free throws and scored a basket to lead Kenny in the quarter with 5 points.
Maddie Millar added 4 points in quarter, knocking down tough shots with the signature Raines defensive pressure in her face. Ironically, it would be Kenny who’d capitalize on turnovers early, as Roberts went coast to coast on a steal and layup. She’d also rip stand-out Nya Allen and drive the length of the court for a lay-up and one. Kenny held a 14-6 lead after one.
In the second quarter, Raines mounted a comeback by ramping up the pressure. Not pressure on defense, but pressure on offense by attacking. Ahliah Brown (16 points) began to attack the basket and make lay-ups. Her penetration collapsed the defense allowing for her to kick the ball out to teammates for shots. She also hit a big three pointer scoring 7 points in the 2nd quarter to tie the game at 20-20 late in the period. Still, Kenny held a 26-20 lead at halftime.
The third period saw Raines cut into the lead as Brown continued to showcase her skills for Raines. She hit two three pointers in the quarter scoring 8 points. Kenny also finally showed signs of frustration from the Raines pressure. The Lady Vikings held the Lady Crusaders to just 9 points in the quarter, out scoring them 14-9. Millar’s and Robert’s free throws kept Bishop Kenny ahead by one point 35-34 headed to the fourth.
Every highly contested and competitive game needs an X-Factor. That player that makes the difference between the stars of both teams. That player in this game was Kenny’s junior Jamia Nesmith. Raines dialed up the full court pressure anticipating Kenny to make a crucial mistake. Instead, Charlsea Clark’s disciplined team made the crucial pass, finding Nesmith who converted two lay-ups. She’d also knock down a critical free-throw in the quarter as well. She finished the game with 12 points.
Kenny held a four point lead when their leaders Roberts and Millar took over from the line. Roberts went 4 of 4 from the free throw line, while Millar went 6 of 8 from the charity stripe to close out the contest.
Raines was unable to knock down the big shot late in the fourth as three pointers from Brown and Nyla Allen (10 points) missed their mark. It was that type of night for the Vikings who shot 5 of 13 in the third quarter, and 2 of 7 in the first quarter which ultimately sealed their fate. Still, Coach Julius Paden and staff guided the Lady Vikings to an area best 28-2 record. Brown and Selah Reddick return next year for the talented team.
As the clock ticked to zeros, their faithful crowd erupted in elation and their bench screamed with joy, knowing that they had successfully punched their ticket to the post season. Bishop Kenny defeated Raines 53-47. Roberts finished with 23 points and Maddie Miller added 17 points for the Lady Crusaders.
With her hands raised in the air, Coach Charlsea Clark takes her team back to Lakeland for the second time in as many years. Her road ironically was detoured by Ribault whose championship teams were thorns in her side her first two years at the program, missing the playoffs. She finally defeated Ribault and advanced to the Regional Finals in 2017-2018, and since that time she’s made it to the Final 4 twice. This time, she hopes to get over the State Championship hump as she did the playoff hump, to finally hoist the championship trophy.
Bishop Kenny (21-9) will face Cocoa in the State Semifinal 2/27/20 at 12pm. Cocoa (26-3), the #1 team from region 3 defeated Lincoln Park 63-60 to advance to the Final 4.
2020 Girls Basketball State Tournament Class 4A
