Lakeland Fl- The Bishop Kenny Crusaders faced state power and 4-time defending state champion Lake Highland Prep for the Class 4A state title on Saturday. The two teams have had lots of history in a short span of time down in Lakeland. Bishop Kenny moved to Class 4A in 2019-2020 and made it all the way to the state championship game where they fell to the Highlanders 61-46. They would fall to Lake Highland again the next year in the State Semifinal 44-32. Last year, Kenny was close, but couldn’t pull it out falling to the Highladers 55-45. This time although it’s a different year, unfortunately for Kenny it was the same outcome as the Crusaders fell to the Highlanders 58-47.
The Crusaders started strong in a back and forth first quarter. Senior Clare Coyle (21 points) established herself down-low as the Highlanders had no answer for her in the post. . Instead Lake Highland Prep was forced to spread the floor and hi outside shots. They also turned missed shots into transition points to take an 11-5 first quarter lead and would take a 31-21 lead into halftime.
End of the 1st qtr LakeHighland Prep leads Bishop Kenny 11-5! Class 4A State Championship! Back and forth game but Clare Coyle @clarecoyyle big down low for Kenny! pic.twitter.com/F6pQ672NVV
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) March 2, 2024
The second half saw Kenny claw their way back into the contest. Shots by Riley Talbert, and Sydney Roundtree kept the game close. Kenny would reduce the Highlander lead to just 3-points. Talbert’s step-back jumper and Rountree’s one on one drive to the basket showed their ability to exploit mismatches and create shots.
End of the 3rd Bishop Kenny trails Lake Highland Prep 41-33 Riley Talbert with the step back jumper! The Crusaders got to within 2 points in the quarter! pic.twitter.com/hz5xcHm4y7
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) March 2, 2024
There wasn’t enough opportunities schemed by Kenny to take advantage of the mismatches on the floor. Kenny’s goal was to slow the game down and stay close. This strategy would bank on a crucial mistake by LakeHighland Prep in order for Kenny to capitalize on. Yet, that mistake never came.
Sydney Roundtree checks in and goes to work! Brings Bishop Kenny closer in the 4th! @SydneyRoundtree trailing Lake Highland Prep 41-37! pic.twitter.com/SmzuHxmS07
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) March 2, 2024
Jada Eads 22-points led the Highlanders as she showed incredible quickness and the refusal to let her team be the one to lose the big game. Incredibly Eads and company have won 4 rings in high school. Her teammates Lexi Blue and Ari Woodard were instrumental in knocking down clutch shots to keep increasing the Highlander lead when Kenny would get close.
Jada Eads has 22 points! She's taken over! @JadaBaller Lake Highland Prep wins their 5th straight state title! Defeating Bishop Kenny 58-47! pic.twitter.com/Z4IzYVUFzP
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) March 2, 2024
Their head coach Al Honor has won 5-straight state championships with the program and is a 7-time state championship head coach. Coach Will Mayer guided Bishop Kenny to the big dance once again defeating SLAM Academy 46-43 in the state semifinal. In that game, Clare Coyle led the team with 16 points. In his three years at Bishop Kenny he’s only lost 12 games. Three of those losses have been in the state championship game. It’s a remarkably consistent feat for a coach that prides himself on that very trait. His team weathered every storm and fond a way to get back to Lakeland. They ended the year with a 26-5 record.
