Class 2A Semifinals: FAMU, Hollywood Christian Meet Again

Tue. February 21, 2012 at 6:47 p.m. | By Polk Preps Staff

FAMU's LaKaris Salter (44) reacts to scoring and being fouled on her drive to the basket against Academy at the Lakes. (Photo by Pierre DuCharme | The Ledger)

By MIKE COBB
LEDGER CORRESPONDENT

LAKELAND | Two teams that had blown away their opponents on their way to the FHSAA Class 2A State Finals found themselves locked in a nail-biter Tuesday afternoon at The Lakeland Center.

In the end, defending Class 1A champion Hollywood Christian pulled out a 49-47 win over Boca Raton Grandview Prep to advance to Wednesday’s Class 2A championship game against FAMU Developmental. That game will be at 2:30 p.m.

Hollywood Christian eliminated FAMU, 63-27, in the Class 1A semifinals last year. FAMU coach Ahmad Aliyy, who’s team advanced with a 67-46 win over Academy at The Lake earlier Tuesday, said he’d welcome a shot at Hollywood Christian again.

“Absolutely, we want a shot at them,” Aliyy said. “It’s no vengeance thing. It’s just basketball.”

Hollywood Christian coach Carlos Adamson, however, said last year was last year and should have no bearing on this year.

“I told the girls after the game nobody remembers what the score was when we played FAMU last year,” Adamson said.

Hollywood Christian came into the state finals having outscored its five district and regional opponents by an average score of 74-11, while Grandview Prep had won its five games by an average of 66-19.

Tuesday, the Eagles found themselves having to fight from behind in the second half.

“It was kind of like a breath of fresh air,” said Eagles guard Sarah Kelton. “That’s what we miss, that’s what we play for and it was good to finally get a taste of that.”

Grandview Prep led 25-20 at the half and quickly extended that to 29-20 before the Hollywood Christian put together a 9-0 run to tie it, 29-29.

The game saw five lead changes in the fourth quarter before a basket by Kelton with 2:10 to play put the Eagles ahead, 46-45, a lead they managed to hold on to the rest of the way.

The win wasn’t secure, however, until the final buzzer when Grandview Preps final shot hit off the backboard.

Kelton and Shaumaria Bridges led the Eagles with 13 each and Skyla Osceola added 11. Vionise Pierre-Louis led Grandview Prep with 18 while Konika Garvin added 11.

HOLLYWOOD CHRISTIAN (49) – Rickae Jinks 3-9 9-4 6, Sarah Kelton 5-18 1-1 13, Skyla Osceola 5-10 1-2 11, Shamuaria Bridges 5-15 0-0 13, Ariah Osceola 1-7 1-1 4, Brittany Jackson 1-4 0-0 2, Maleah Isaac 0-0 0-0 0, Cierra Ingraham 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 20-65 3-10 49.

GRANDVIEW PREP (47) – Vionise Pierre-Louis 8-13 2-8 18, Kaitlin Conrad 0-3 0-0 0, Konika Garvin 5-19 1-1 11, Neydja Petithomme 3-13 3-4 9, Ashley Arinus 3-6 1-2 7, Summer Burgess 0-1 0-0 0, Casey Gates 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 20-56 7-15 47.

Hollywood Christian    9   11   18   11  --  49
Grandview Prep      10   15    8   14  --  47

3-point FGs: HC 6-23 (Bridges 3, Kelton 2, A. Osceola 1); GP 0-3. Rebounds: HC 36 (Bridges 9); GP 50 (Garvin 14). Assists: HC 11 (three with 3); GP 11 (Petithomme 7). Records: Hollywood Christian 21-7, Grandview Prep 23-5.

FAMU 67, Academy at The Lake 46

LAKELAND | FAMU Developmental used big scoring runs to start each half and rode those starts to a 67-46 win over Academy at The Lakes. Academy at the Lakes (23-6), a program that started in 2005, was making its first appearance in the FHSAA State Finals.

FAMU’s inside combination of 6-foot LaKaris Salter and 5-11 Jazmine Jones proved too much for Academy of the Lakes to handle. Salter, a sophomore, led the Baby Rattlers with 30 points and 16 rebounds. Jones, an eighth-grader, added 20 points and nine rebounds.

“We had no ability to stop No. 44 (Salter) or No. 23 (Jones),” Academy coach Karim Nohra said. “We don’t have an answer for that size. Simple as that.”

The Baby Rattlers started the game with a 15-2 run and the second half with a 12-2 run that gave them a 23-point lead at 46-23.

“Evidently it was great because we needed it,” FAMU coach Ahmad Aliyy said. “They made a run there and I got a little nervous.”

Trailing 48-25, the Wildcats went on a 16-2 run of their own to cut the lead to 50-41, with 5:10 to play.

Salter and Jones combined for seven straight puts to push the lead back up to 57-41 with 4:05 to play. Salter started the run with a 3-pointer and a driving layup.

“They (the shots) just came to me,” Salter said. “Milan (Clayton) passed me the ball and I just shot it.”

ACADEMY AT THE LAKE (46) – Alexis Holler 0-1 0-0 0, Yvanessa Vincent 1-3 1-2 3, Samantha Fernandez 2-12 8-12 12, Amelia Oliver 5-15 2-3 15, Andrea Mauger 7-18 2-3 16, Alex Gittens 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 15-49 12-19 46.

FAMU DEVELOPMENTAL (67) – Cherisse Leon 1-1 0-0 2, LaKaris Salter 13-20 2-3 30, JaNyia McNealy 2-12 0-0 4, Milan Clayton 2-5 0-0 6, Jazmine Jones 9-16 0-0 20, Aaliyah Barrington 1-4 0-0 3, Mikala Williams 1-1 0-0 2, Kiani Sims 0-2 0-0 0, Cayla Pennewell 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 29-63 2-3 67.

Academy at The Lake        4   17   13   12 – 46
FAMU Developmental       15  10    14   19 – 67

3-point FGs: AATL 4-17 (Oliver 3, Mauger 1); FAMU 7-24 (Salter 2, Clayton 2, Jones 2, Barrington 1). Rebounds: AATL 33 (Oliver, Gittens 7); FAMU 38 (Salter 16). Assists: AATL 8 (Mauger 3); FAMU 18 (Clayton 9). Records: AATL 23-6, FAMU 26-4).