Sandalwood HS- The last champion to be crowned in the 2019-2020 Duval County Sports season was the Highlands Middle School Girls Basketball Team who defeated the previously undefeated Landon Lions in the Duval County Middle School championship . Highlands capped off their consecutive season as champs with a new team, made up of new players who executed the same style of play which overtook Landon in the first half of the game.
Highlands jumped out to a 14-8 lead after the first period. The defending champions weren’t phased by the gravity of the moment, as they hit shots down low created by basic motion plays. They also forced Landon into several turnovers through the first two quarters.
The Wildcats took a 28-15 halftime lead over the Lions through pressure and points off turnovers. By halftime, #10 Jade Williams had 16 points, #14 Lauren Maitlands scored 6 points for Highlands.
For Landon, #5 Kennedy Weymer had 7 points and #23 Sydney Roundtree tallied 6 points at halftime, but that would change quickly. Landon would go on a 10-0 lead to start the third quarter, thanks to ramping up their defense and utilizing their size down low. Kennedy Waymer went off for 10 points in the second half. When #30 Bethany Moore hit a three pointer, the Lions took their first lead of the game 32-31 in the fourth quarter.
In the final minutes of the fourth quarter, Highlands would wake up and regain their championship swagger. They would go on a 7-1 run in the quarter led by Jade Williams who scored 17 points in the game. The Wildcats would complete the repeat defeating Landon 39-33.
Landon’s Kennedy Weymer was named MVP of the game. Yet it was Highlands and head coach Eddie Verrett who hoisted the championship trophy along with Athletic Director Donald Taft and Principal Kenyannya Wilcox. Their team closed out the Duval County championship season with another ring, as the talented student athletes move on to the next level.
