Winter Haven girls spoil Valentine's Day for Sarasota Riverview

WINTER HAVEN, FLORIDA – Playing Winter Haven on the road isn’t exactly a delightful way to spend Valentine's Day evening.

The snarling Winter Haven girls basketball defense was up to its usual stifling antics while holding Sarasota Riverview to just 15 first-half points on its way to a 63-39 win in a Class 7A, Region 3 semifinal on Tuesday at Winter Haven.

“This feels good, especially after losing nine family members to Covid in the last year-and-half,” Winter Haven coach Johnnie Lawson said. “I didn’t know if I would be here and if I would have enough to come back. So, I tell you right now, it’s a blessing.”

The top-seeded Blue Devils (22-4) will host No. 2 seed and longtime rival Tampa Plant (25-4) on Friday at 7 p.m. in the regional final with a berth in the state semifinals riding in the balance.

“These girls kind of saved my life in a way, so I am excited about it,” Lawson said. “Plant is going to rough, but we are going to be here. They have everything, point guard, shooting guard, center and they are big and tall. I’d rather play here than over there.”

Winter Haven has not faced Plant since the regional semifinals in 2019, when Plant came away with a 53-40 win. A year earlier, the roles were reversed with Winter Haven topping Plant in the regional semis 62-56 on the Blue Devils way to its last state championship in 2018.

“We don’t look at it as redemption. Me and (assistant coach) Billy Washington look at it as Plant is standing in our way of going to state. And they just happen to be one of the best teams in the state of Florida. What other way to go.”

Winter Haven outscored Riverview 19-8 in the first quarter while building a commanding 38-15 halftime score.

“It was a good win,” Winter Haven senior guard Bre’Aisa Washington said. “We came out with a lot of energy. We knew from the jump that it was going to be a tough game and we are now ready to move onto the next round. We don’t let up for anybody, whether we are down 15 or up 15.

“Plant is going to be tougher. We have to come out fast and play defense because defense is definitely what we need to win.”

The Blue Devils were led by their scoring trifecta of Washington with 18 points and three steals, sophomore Jaeden Williams with 17 and seven rebounds and freshman Serenity Hardy with 13. Winter Haven also picked up some critical bench minutes from Aubrey Hall, who scored seven while Kassadi King had four.

“Me and Coach Washington really got in Jaeden Williams this week,” Lawson said. “We wanted more from her. She was in the doghouse with us. We just know she is just one of the best players in the country. I know I have three of the best players in the country and tonight (Williams) showed it. She showed us what she is. And we got contributions from a lot of people.”

Riverview (16-11) was led by senior forward Krystal Montas with 14 points. Sami Slusarek added seven and Jaylah Wilson scored six.

Winter Haven has won five state championships but has not reached the state tournament in two seasons when it lost a 6A semifinal to state runner-up Wekiva in 2021.