McKeel Fends Off Seffner Christian

Thu. February 16, 2012 at 11:17 p.m. | By Polk Preps Staff

Class 3A, Region 2

By SOLANGE REYNER

THE LEDGER

LAKELAND | It's not often Mitch Gullifer is fighting for a rebound, but that rebound proved to be key in McKeel's 64-60 victory over Seffner Christian Thursday night in the Class 3A, Region 2 quarterfinals.

Gullifer jostled for the ball in between two defenders, a little over one minute left on the clock with McKeel, down by one point to Seffner Christian.

"I was really nervous," Gullifer said.

Not for long. After getting a good handle on the possession, Gullifer looked left and saw his point guard, Corey Sanders, hustling down the sideline. He got him the ball and Sanders swept past a Seffner defender to score the game winner, a layup.

Sanders, who led his team with 23 points, added another bucket with 39.4 seconds left for good measure and Gullifer had a free throw for the final point in the victory that gets McKeel into the regional semifinals.

McKeel will face Tampa Prep on Tuesday at 7 p.m. Tampa Prep beat Lakeland Christian, 70-22, in the other quarterfinal.

Seffner rallied back to make it a close one after being down, 52-39, late in the third.

The team went on a 24-4 run that stretched from the third into the fourth behind three 3-pointers, two by Kent Hagarty, and a few baskets after McKeel turnovers.

McKeel (64) — Corey Sanders 23, Dwayne Bacon 16, Mitch Gullifer 4, Kendall Barnes 7, Jake Gandy 5, Shaq Hewitt.

Seffner Christian (60) — Kent Hagarty 19, Barret Swartz 18, Jordan Parker 12, Garrett Saunders 5, Brandon Ardley 4, Conner Klorer 2.

McKeel 14 26 12 11 – 64

Seffner Christian 15 15 17 13 – 60

Halftime: McKeel 40-30. 3-pointers: McKeel 5 (Sanders 2, Barnes 1, Bacon 1), Seffner Christian 7 (Hagarty 5, Saunders 1, Parker 1).Records: McKeel Academy 28-1, Seffner Christian 13-13.