At the beginning of the season, there are two goals: To play the first and to play the last game of the season. There are teams that have their season come to an abrupt ending without any signs of warning. The other teams end their season, by playing in the last game possible, for a chance to be called the BEST. In Lakeland, there were 12 teams controlling their own destiny by playing in the last game and knowing that this is the last game. The winners will be the State’s six best teams in 2008.

All what players practice for, coaches plan for and spectators watch for are the best girls basketball teams in each classification in the state of Florida. The breakdowns and results for each classification are listed below:

Class A State Finals

Sarasota Christian Blazers (27-6) vs. Trinity Christian Warriors (22-5)

Trinity Christian can simply call themselves “The Best in Class 1A” this year, as they declared their 1st in school history. Trinity Christian overcame a Sarasota Christian’s 2nd half surge to win Class A title, 51-44.

The Warriors were led by Danielle McCray (6’0” forward freshman) and Jamierra Faulkner (5’6” guard sophomore) with 22 points and 11 points respectively. The Warriors came in as a District Runner-up and won their final 5 games of the season.

The Warriors led 31-17 at the half, but were shocked by a late 3rd quarter 10-0 run by the Blazers to cut into the Warrior’s lead. The Blazers could not get any closer than 7 points, as Heather Miller (5’6” forward junior) scored 2 of her 13 points at the end of the 3rd quarter, trailing 41-33.

Turning up the defensive pressure, the Warriors forced numerous of turnovers, in the 4th quarter, to seal the Class A Championship and hoist the trophy.

Miller led the Blazers with 13 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists in the lost. “It really feels good to be the State Champions. I knew this day would come and I would be a State Champion because I’ve worked really hard on my game,” stated McCray.


A-TOURNAMENT TEAM:

Danielle McCray (6’0” center freshman); Trinity Christian
Heather Miller (5’6” forward junior); Sarasota Christian
Tiffany Waters (5’7” forward freshman); Sarasota Christian
Ashley Hampton (5’9” forward senior); St. John Lutheran
M.V.P.- Jamierra Faulkner (5’6” guard sophomore); Trinity Christian

Class 2A State Finals

Lafayette Hornets (28-3) vs. North Florida Christian Eagles (28-4)

North Florida Christian defeated Lafayette 54-44 for the Class 2A title. The Eagles’ Melanie Warner (5’11” forward senior) had a game-high of 22 points and Samantha Phillips (5’9” forward senior) added 17 points and 10 rebounds.

Lafayette was led by Sunshine Reid (5’7” guard sophomore) and Natalie Land (5’7” guard senior) as they combined for 29 of the Hornets 44 points in the lost.

North Florida Christian captured their First title in school history.

Class 3A State Finals

Ft. Myers Dunbar Tigers (26-3) vs. Miramar Parkway Academy Panthers (29-1)

After a two point lost in the title game last year, Parkway found a way to replace those memories with a two-point victory over Dunbar. Parkway Academy defeated Dunbar 45-43, again by 2 points, to capture the 3A State Title at the George Jenkins Arena located in Lakeland.

Hungry were the words written on Chelsea Lee’s shoes and that said it all about Parkway’s attitude going into this season. Chelsea Lee (6’3” center senior) had a double-double, 10 points and 15 rebounds and Erica Wheeler (5’8” guard junior) scored 21 points to help the Panthers past the Tigers.

“Last year’s lost (in State title game vs. Florida High) made me go harder this year and stay focus. Because last year we were not focus as a team, but this year we wanted it so bad, we had o remain focus to win and we did,” said Wheeler.

Dunbar was not intimidated by the Panther’s seasonal success, as they came out as the aggressors forcing Lee to commit 3 fouls in the 1st half. The Tigers led 21-17 at the half and at the end of the 3rd quarter, the Tigers led by 2 points.

With 3:48 remaining, the Panthers trailed 40-34 and Wheeler got busy hitting a 3-point shot cutting the lead to three. She also added two key free-throws with 8 seconds left, to give the Panthers a two point lead.

The Tigers were held without a field goal in the last 6 minutes of the game. “This a game of runs, we made a run early in the game and they made a run late in the game when it counted the most, that’s the difference,” said Dwayne Donnell (Dunbar’s Head Coach).

Eglah Griffin (5’9” guard senior) led Dunbar with 12 points and Chelsea Gordon (6’1” forward senior) added 10 points in the lost.

Parkway captures their first state title and 2 consecutive final appearances in school’s history. The Panthers were inspired with not having a home gym and practicing outside the entire season. It was worth it.

3A-TOURNAMENT TEAM:

Chelsea Lee (6’3” center senior); Parkway Academy
Chelsea Gordon (6’1” forward senior); Dunbar
Eglah Griffin (5’9” guard senior); Dunbar
Crystal Johnson (5’8” guard senior); P.K. Yonge
M.V.P.- Erica Wheeler (5’8” guard junior); Parkway Academy


Class 4A State Finals

Orlando Bishop Moore Hornets (28-4) vs. Pensacola Tigers (27-1)

The Hornets stung the Tigers dream of a perfect season in the 4A State title game, 55-39. Just like the New England Patriots, the Tigers learned that a perfect season doesn’t guarantee a championship.

Bishop Moore started the game with a 20-2 run in the 1st quarter and never looked back. The Tigers were on their heels the entire game and never recover from the large deficit.

“We got off to a slow start and that was hard for us to overcome. I thought that Bishop Moore created difficult match-ups for us,” said Allison Davis (Pensacola head Coach). Pensacola scored their first basket with 4:10 remaining in the 1st quarter on a Jasmine Richardson (5’8” guard sophomore) lay-up.

Bishop Moore’s stifling full-court pressure forced the Tigers to be careless with the basketball. Sarah Blackburn (5’9” guard sophomore) led the Hornets with 14 points, 9 rebounds and teammate Chandler McCabe (6’3” center senior) added 10 points and 4 blocks. The Hornets out-matched the Tigers building on a 35-18 halftime lead controlling the boards with talented forward, Jennifer George (6’2” junior) with a game-high of 12 rebounds and 3 blocks.

The Tigers were led by their superstar forward, Bianca Lutley (5’10” junior), with 22 points and 6 rebounds. Lutley was 7 of 8 from the free-throw line, however Lutley’s performance was not enough to overcome the Hornets and their defensive performance.

“Our team had a lot of pressure because we were undefeated and we didn’t want lose our first game now,” said Lutley.


M.V.P.- Lindsey Walton (5’7” guard junior); Bishop Moore

Class 5A State Finals

Winter Haven Blue Devils (30-2) vs. Barron Collier Cougars (31-3)

The rivalry continues between two elite programs as Barron Collier and Winter Haven renew their annual encounter to claim the 5A State Title. Over 1,700 spectators witnessed a Barron Collier victory over Winter Haven 33-30 to win the 5A title. The Cougars held the Blue Devils to just nine points in the 2nd Half.

The Cougars were led by Kelsey Assarian (6’1” senior forward) with 16 points, 7 rebounds and 4 steals. “We knew in the 1st half we didn’t come out the way we wanted to and the 2nd half we all focused on letting everything go because this it,” said Assarian. And the rest of the Cougars combined with a total of 17 points.

The Blue Devils were led by Tiffany Hayes (6’0” senior guard) with 9 points. Hayes, however never got on track shooting 2 for 11 from the field.

“We felt good coming into the game, we just came up short. They (Barron Collier) played very well and now their state champions,” said Hayes

The game started out very shaky for the Cougars as they trailed Winter Haven 10-1 early in the first quarter. However, Barron Collier fought their way back, as they closed the gap and only trailed by 3 points at half, 21-18. “I was very surprised that we didn’t handle their pressure well at all. We just didn’t play Winter Haven basketball tonight,” said LeDawn Gibson (Winter Haven Head Coach).

Barron Collier took their first lead of the game 28-26 at the end of the 3rd quarter with a Kelsey Assarian 15-ft jump shot. The Blue Devils were not out of it yet, as Hayes and company, kept applying the pressure defensively forcing 17 turnovers.

Hayes, a Connecticut recruit, made things interesting with 6.7 seconds remaining in the 4th quarter, trailing the Cougars by three. Hayes 3-point shot attempt was block by Assarian to preserve a Barron Collier’s second State Title in school’s history.

5A-TOURNAMENT TEAM:

Kiara Fransisco (6’0” forward senior); Winter Haven
Tiffany Hayes (6’0” guard senior); Winter Haven
Erin Zampell (5’8” guard senior); Barron Collier
Angela Felton (5’10” guard senior); Leesburg
M.V.P.- Kelsey Assarian (6’1” forward senior); Barron Collier


Class 6A State Finals

South Broward Bulldogs (19-10) vs. Orlando Freedom Patriots (25-7)

Freedom had a tall task to overcome to win the Class 6A championship. South Broward defeated Freedom, 49-45 to win their 6th State title in 11 years. Angela Smith (5’6” guard senior) scored 22 points, 6 rebounds, 3 steals and played all 32 minutes for the Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs controlled the glass out-rebounding the Patriots by 38. Channelle Clayton (6’1” forward senior) and Alicia DeVaughn (6’4” center sophomore) combined for 37 of those rebounds. Most of the night, Freedom was scoring from the perimeter and South Broward make it look easy with lay-ups inside.

The game was a seesaw battle the entire way until Smith took over with her speed, vision and relentless attitude to hold off Freedom.

“You can’t coach height and you can’t coach speed, said Richard Victor (Freedom Head Coach). I am not going to fault these kids they played hard and they exceed expectations. These kids right here is why I do what I do and I love all 13 of my kids,” added Victor.

Not giving up, Freedom showed that they had heart and more fight in them. Trailing by 6 points, Freedom’s Melanie Itajahy (5’8” guard junior) converted on a three-point play to cut the Bulldogs lead to 3 points, 45-42. But, it was Smith free throws that sealed the victory for the Bulldogs. “I just asked God to please let me hit these free throws and plus I didn’t want coach to yell at me,” said Smith.

6A-TOURNAMENT TEAM:

Channelle Clayton (6’1” forward senior); South Broward
Alicia DeVaughn (6’4” center sophomore); South Broward
Maddie Cummings (5’8” guard senior); Freedom
Melanie Itajahy (5’8” guard junior); Freedom
M.V.P.- Angela Smith (5’6” guard sophomore); South Broward