Winter Haven erupts to oust Sarasota Riverview in 7A FHSAA boys basketball quarterfinal

WINTER HAVEN, FLORIDA – When Dylan James blocks a shot, the atmosphere changes.

Trailing by one point, the Winter Haven senior center rejected a shot in the lane with one minute remaining in the second quarter which sparked the top-seeded Blue Devils to go on a 9-0 run to close out the first half on their way to an 81-66 win in a Class 7A, Region 3 quarterfinal on Tuesday.

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“Blocking shots is something I do, and it was a big play for sure, but I thought we started out kind of slow and we were searching for something that would give us some energy. I think that was it,” James said.

“We had the scouting report, and we knew what players they had but we just started too slow. We should have had the lead earlier.”

With the win, Winter Haven will host fifth-seed Tampa Plant on Tuesday in a Region 3 semifinal. Plant advanced after topping fourth-seed East Lake 48-35.

Winter Haven (24-4) had four players score in double figures, led by junior guards Jamie Phillips with 24 points and Isaac Celiscar with 16. Kjei Parker scored 15 and James finished with 13.

The first quarter was nip and tuck with several lead changes but Phillips canned a 3-pointer from the corner with seven seconds remaining to give Winter Haven a 20-17 lead.

“We made some comments about not moving the ball like we normally do,” Winter Haven coach Tyrone Woodside said. “They were holding the ball and starring a little bit. When we move the ball and play the game the right way, it is very easy. We have talented people.”

Riverview (10-19) senior guard and Texas Tech signee Jason Jackson said it was Winter Haven’s third-quarter press that really rattled the Rams and they fell too far behind before getting a timeout to adjust.

“It hurts but you have to win them and you have to lose them,” said Jackson, who led Riverview with 23 points. “Honestly, it was the press, we just weren’t ready for it. When we came out at halftime, we thought we were just going to get back. It surprised us and it sped us up in a way we didn’t like.”

Jackson is the only player in Riverview history to be part of a district championship team four straight seasons.

“I stayed all four years (at Riverview) because I wanted to make history. I knew we weren’t going to be a great team but I wanted to be a leader and so I led the young ones.”

Also for Riverview, sophomore Rhys Gamble scored 11 while Khrye Eillis and Jayden Dudash each scored six.