St. Pete survives at Barron Collier to win regional title

NAPLES, FLORIDA – The Class 5A-Region 3 championship game couldn't have been any closer. 

The battle between visiting St. Petersburg and host Barron Collier featured 14 lead changes and seven ties. Neither team led by more than three points in the final three quarters.

But someone had to win. Barron Collier had the final shot, but it rattled out, and St. Pete earned a 48-47 victory. The Green Devils (23-6) grabbed their second straight regional title and trip to Lakeland for the state semifinals.

"Both teams executed well," St. Petersburg coach Chris Blackwell said. "We just had one more possession than them. It's a blessing, man. God is good."

With 1.9 seconds left, Barron Collier (23-6) had the ball and was inbounding underneath its own basket. Senior Josh Henry, who hadn't scored in the game, got the ball six feet from the basket. He was forced to spin to his right and put up a left-handed shot. The ball hit both sides of the rim before bouncing out at the buzzer.

Blackwell, who is making his sixth trip to Lakeland in 23 years at St. Pete, was emotional after the game. He said he was happy the Devils get another chance at winning state after losing in the 5A championship game last season.

"All these guys who have experienced (a trip to the final four), all they wanted to do was get one more chance," Blackwell said. "I'm emotional for the seniors and the young guys to get to experience this."

St. Pete nearly missed out on its opportunity by going 0-for-5 from the free throw line in the final 90 seconds. However, the Devils' defense kept Barron Collier from scoring in that time.

The Cougars took a 47-46 lead with 2:43 left to play after forcing a turnover and a fast-break dunk from senior Mike Reyes. St. Pete regained the lead, 48-47, on a tip-in off an offensive rebound with 1:57 left.

Neither team scored the rest of the way.

Barron Collier turned the ball over twice in the final two minutes when it was trailing by one point. The Cougars got a 3-point attempt with 10 seconds left but missed.

St. Pete was led by a trio of seniors. Marquris Curry, Sam Ducksworth and Dylan Kramer each scored 12 points for the Devils. Ducksworth scored 10 of his 12 in the second half.

Barron Collier was playing without starting point guard Spencer Clayton, who injured his ankle Tuesday in the regional semifinals. However, the Cougars got back Reyes, a senior starter who missed the first two regional games with an ankle injury.

Reyes led the team in scoring with 13 points. Noah French and Brayden Touchette each added 11 points. Bryce Clayton, the team's second-leading scorer at 16.5 points per game (behind French's 16.9) was held to seven points.

Reyes, French, Touchette and Bryce Clayton are four senior starters who oversaw the turnaround of Barron Collier's program under coach David Watts. Before Watts arrived their freshman year, the Cougars had seven straight losing seasons and had 15 wins combined the previous three years.

In the past four years under Watts and those seniors, the Cougars won 75 games, two district titles and made the playoffs four times.