Lakeland FL- Ponte Vedra (23-6) faced Dwyer (28-1) in the state championship game Saturday. Dwyer defeated Wharton (24-7) 52-39 to advance to the title game. While Ponte Vedra advanced with a 63-41 victory over Wekiva Thursday. Dwyer was led by Mason Brown (13.7ppg) and Blake Wilsons 12.3 ppg). The Sharks, who were led by Israel Nuhu (12.8ppg), Ben Ritchie (11.8ppg), and Nathan Bunkosky (11.6 ppg), came into the contest hoping to win a state championship for the first time in school history.
From the onset, both teams seemed tight and hesitant missing easy shots, and flustering the other on the defense end. Dwyer would get on the board first, however Ponte Vedra would respond, thanks to senior Nathan Bunkosky. Bunkosky hit a driving baseline layup, and a free throw to tie the game at 3-3 all. Bunkosky led Ponte Vedra with 8-points in the first half.
Yet Dwyer seemed to gain confidence as the first half continued. They frustrated the smaller Ponte Vedra team on defense, forcing uncharacteristic turnovers by the Sharks. Dwyer also capitalized on the boards, out rebounding Ponte Vedra 17-10 in the first half. Amari Nealy led Dwyer with 7 rebounds and 12 points in the first half, as the Panthers extended their early lead in the first half.
Sam Ritchie, who scord a career high 34 points in the State semifinal versus Wekiva, was blanketed early and often by Dwyer. He was unable to get to spots on the floor, or find open shots thanks to the Panthers defense. Dwyer turned those turnovers into points, which made for a decisive difference in the first half.
Said 4-time state championship head coach Fred Ross after the game, “we were determined not to let #1 get the ball and have a day like he had in the semifinal”. Dwyer boasted several players with height and size including 6’5 Mason Brown, 6’4 Amari Nealy, and 6’5 Blake Wilson.
However, Ritchie was able to get in a groove late in the half, knocking down two consecutive shots to pull Ponte Vedra to within 11-points as halftime. Ritchie said after the game, ” I just had to adjust to what they were doing, and find ways to create shots”. The Sharks trailed the Panthers 29-18 after one half of play.
In the second half, head coach Ben Wilson made adjustments on defense to stymie the offense for Dwyer. He challenged his team to be more aggressive by contesting passes and being more phyisical. Said Wilson, ” Our defense has been one of our strognest points all year, so it was a matter of just settling down, and getting back to Ponte Vedra basketball”.
He got effort off the bench from shooting guard Darius Ferraro who hustled for rebounds and loose balls, drawing offensive fouls, and even hitting a big 3-pointer in the second half. The scrappy play by Ferraro and the team got the Sharks back into the game. It allowed Ponte Vedra to catch Dwyer out of position, which set up open shots at the other end of the floor, like this one from guard Brendan Hynes.
Since Ponte Vedra sustained stops on defense, it’s offense was able to ignite. A big 3-pointer by Ben Ritchie ended the third quarter, and gave life to the crowd that made the trip down from Ponte Vedra to cheer on their Sharks.
Ponte Vedra would continue to scratch and claw their way back into the game. They’d eventually cut the Dwyer lead to 6-points in the 4th quarter. Israel Nuhu hit two cosnecutive buckets in the final quarter, as thoughts of a furious comeback like last year was on the minds of every one in attendance.
However, Dwyer showed why they are a state power in basketball, slowing the pace of the game, and rotating the ball to the open man. A big shot by Mason Brown was a proverbial dagger to the heart of the Sharks, as the Panthers held on to defeat Ponte Vedra 51-40.
With two consecutive trips to the state championship game, Ponte Vedra can hold their heads high as Coach Wilson said in his post game presser. Not many players can say they went to the state title game in Class 6A, let alone two times in a row with a different head coach. It’s a testament to the hard work of the coaching staff and players. Seniors Nathan Bunkosky and Israel Nuhu both said after the game, that they plan to leave that same work ethic with the returning players for next year, in hopes of them finishing the job that they started last year.
