Winter Haven girls rout Plant, returns to state tournament
WINTER HAVEN, FLORIDA – Tampa Plant probably should have burned all its timeouts before the second quarter started.
No. 1 seed Winter Haven blew open an 1-point game with an explosive run through the second and third quarters to topple second-seed Plant 80-44 on Friday in a Class 7A-Region 3 final at Winter Haven.
Winter Haven outscored Plant 25-7 in the second quarter and 20-9 in the third quarter to eventually invoke a running clock game in the fourth.
“It was an incredible run,” Winter Haven head coach Johnnie Lawson said. “My assistant coaches put together a perfect plan. It’s been a while since I have seen a plan executed from start to finish.”
Winter Haven senior guard Bre'Asia Washington heads in for a basket while Tampa Plant forward Morgan Sieper during Class 7A, Region 3 final on Friday at Winter Haven.
Photo by Bill Kemp
The Blue Devils (22-4) advance to the 7A state semifinals slated for Friday at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland and will face Miami, which advanced after knocking off Coral Springs, 57-23. Top-seed Dr. Phillips will face Colonial in the other 7A semifinal.
Winter Haven hounded Plant most of the game with full-court pressure, creating turnovers and havoc while pouncing on 50-50 loose balls throughout the game.
“We had to have it,” Lawson said. “We had to have every loose ball. But to do this against a coaching legend like (Carrie Mahon), and a legendary program, I am shocked. I heard Serenity Hardy screaming, ‘We are not losing.’ I have never seen freshmen and sophomores talking and so zoned in like they were tonight.”
Winter Haven was led by Hardy, a freshman guard, with 27 points, senior guard Bre’Asia Washington with 18 and freshman guard Quinn Sanders with 14.
Tampa Plant point guard Azzariah Styles prepares to shoot while defended by Winter Haven small forward Jaeya Joseph during Class 7A, Region 3 final on Friday at Winter Haven.
Photo by Bill Kemp
“I feel like our effort and hustle was literally at the max,” Hardy said. “We closed out on their shooters. Everything that Coach Johnnie talked about all through the week of practice, we literally came out here and got it done.”
Winter Haven sophomore guard Jaeden Williams scored eight points but was even more instrumental in dealing out seven assists with some nifty pinpoint passing.
“We were so confident and I am proud of our performance,” Williams said. “In the locker room, we knew the game wasn’t over and we had to finish strong. We did. I am proud. This has been a goal of ours since the beginning of the season and I am very proud of it.”
Tampa Plant guard Tanner Strickland makes a move against Winter Haven freshman guard Serenity Hardy during Class 7A, Region 3 final on Friday at Winter Haven.
Photo by Bill Kemp
For Lawson, it will mark his 21st trip to the state tournament with the Blue Devils -- 13 as Winter Haven’s head coach and eight more as an assistant. He has won five state championship rings, three as head coach.
Lawson experienced nine deaths in his family because of the Covid-19 pandemic and at one point did not expect to be heading to a state tournament ever again.
“Even after all the titles, this might be the most special trip because I didn’t expect to be here,” he said.
Plant (25-5) was led by Tanner Strickland with 19 points while Azzariah Styles scored 13 and Morgan Sieper pitched in four.
Winter Haven senior guard Bre'Asia Washington attempts to steal the ball from Tampa Plant guard Azzariah Styles during Class 7A, Region 3 final on Friday at Winter Haven.
Photo by Bill Kemp
