Vanguard Captures 1st District Crown

Sat. February 11, 2012 at 10:00 p.m. | By Polk Preps Staff

By Mike Akins

Ledger Correspondent

2a-7 Boys Hoops

LAKE WALES | Vanguard found the right time to play its best defensive game of the year and as a result captured the Class 2A, District7 title with a 41-29 victory over All Saints' Academy at Vanguard High School Saturday night.

With the victory, the Panthers (20-2), who won their first district championship in nine years, will host Academy at the Lakes in a regional quarterfinal game next Thursday. The Saints (13-13) will travel to Cambridge Christian.

The Lions jumped out to a 11-4 lead early in the second quarter when forward Thierry Frederic, who had scored nine of the 11, drove to the basket and was accidently hit in the eye by a Saints player.

After being down for a few minutes he went to the bench and with center J.R. Elson being saddled with three fouls, Lion coach Dan Sheppard decided to run a four corners offense for the last five minutes of the first half.

"Fortunately for us it (Frederic's njury) worked out just the way i wanted it." Sheppard said. "I am at a loss for words right now."

The Saints cut the lead to 20-18 on a 3-pointer by Troy MacNeill with three minutes left. On the next possession, the Lions went from zone to man and the Saints went scoreless for the next five minutes.

"The tempo was fine, I liked the way we were moving the ball aound until the switch," Conlon said. "We missed a lot of shots and we have to capitalize when we have the chances."

Point guard Shaka McGriff, who is shooting 82 percent from the free throw line this season, did a good job of converting his chances to build the Lions lead as he hit eight of 10 in the final two minutes.

"I wanted the ball in his hands the whole time," Sheppard added. " He played a lot better in the second half than he did in the first half."

Mcgriff scored 15 points in the contest despite committing his fourth foul early in the fourth quarter.

Frederic bounced back from the injury to lead Vanguard with 17 points to go with McGriff's points. MacNeill led All Saints with nine points, including two 3-pointers.

All Saints (29): Troy MacNeill 9, Reggie Evans 7, Andy Moats 5, Max Lindsey 4, Dwight Drayton 4. Totals: 9 8-14 29.

Vanguard (41): Thierry Frederic 17, Shaka McGriff 15, J.R. Esor 6, Spencer Tergliaferra 3. Totals: 11 15-20 41.

All Saints 4 6 8 11 —29

Vanguard 9 4 10 18 —41

Halftime: Vanguard 13-10. Three point field goals: All Saints 4 (MacNeill 2, Lindsey, Evans), Vanguard 4 (McGriff 2, Frederic, Tergliafera). Records: All Saints 13-13, Vanguard 20-2.