Vikings Three Peat With Victory

Mar 1, 2014

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Trailing 26-22 at the half, the two time defending state champions Miami Norland Vikings found itself in unfamiliar territory in the 6A state finals against Lake Minneola but after a third quarter in which the Vikings outscored Lake Minneola 13-8 led by senior Zack Johnson Norland went on to win its third consecutive title 60-44.


Norland started the game their style of basketball inside out.  With a distinct size advantage, the Vikings went to work scoring at will from inside helping them to an early 13-8 first quarter lead.


“It was pivotal that we control the tempo of the game.  We had to be mentally tough to do that and I thought for the most part we did a good job of that.”  Miami Norland head coach Lawton Williams said.


The second quarter belonged to the Lake Minneola Hawks.  Led by junior Avery Brown, the Hawks pushed the tempo of the game and outscored the Vikings 18-9 punctuated by a ferocious dunk by Avery Brown over Norland’s Larry Mcknight to take a halftime lead of 26-22.


We felt very confident coming into the game.  We knew they were big but we had played a lot of big teams this year and we felt we had the game plan to win the game.  Lake Minneola coach Freddie Cole said.


The third quarter saw Norland go back to Vikings basketball as they pounded the ball inside and got the majority of their points with layups and dunks.


I saw our team needed a spark and I wanted to do whatever it took to give it to them.  I knew winning the third quarter was important and wanted to go into the fourth quarter with the lead.  Vikings senior guard Zachary Johnson said.


The fourth quarter was dominated by the Vikings.  Norland outscored Lake Minneola 25 to 10 while holding Lake Minneola to three field goals in the fourth quarter en route to a 60-44 victory.


We went through a dry spell that lasted about five minutes without scoring the ball.  They just outmuscled us and were more physical in the fourth quarter.  Coach Cole said.


With the victory, Miami Norland becomes only the second school in Dade County history to win three titles in a row and has won five titles in nine years.


 

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