Dr. Phillips rallies to repeat as 7A state champions

LAKELAND, FLORIDA – When it mattered most, Dr. Phillips found a way to win.

Top-ranked Dr. Phillips overcame a specular defensive effort by Winter Haven and rallied to win the FHSAA Class 7A girls basketball state championship, 47-43, for the second consecutive year on Saturday at the RP Funding Center.

“This team wanted this game because they are in competition with my other dynasty team that won it three years in a row,” said Dr. Phillips coach Anthony Jones, who also had a three-peat team from 2011 through 2013. “This team wants to go down as the best team in Dr. Phillips history. So, the three-peat is on.

“Winter Haven stacked up with the best of the best and they proved it. We have never been down double-digits late in the game of this magnitude. It was all about encouraging and being positive.”

Dr. Phillips junior guard Trinity Turner hit four of six free throws and freshman guard Kendall Perry canned two in the final 44 seconds to seal the win. Turner led all scorers with 22 points and eight rebounds.

“Every day in practice we shoot about 40 free throws,” Turner said. “That’s all (Jones) gossips about, free throws. After we get done running, we shoot free throws. After water breaks, we shoot free throws. I think it played a big part.

“This is amazing. I can’t compare which (championship) I like better. I just feel like my team came to play and we were not backing down even though we were down. We just had to go into the locker room and regroup.”

Dr. Phillips had a huge size advantage and it paid dividends, out rebounding Winter Haven 42-30,, and more importantly 19-11 on the offensive glass with second-chance points.

Winter Haven (24-5) held the lead for most of the game and managed to hold Dr. Phillips to just nine first-half points. Dr. Phillips (30-1) had averaged 64 points over the course of 30 games this season.

“To be honest there was still anxiety going into the gym but I am very experienced at this,” Jones said. “I just had to tell the girls to calm down and let it come to you and there is a lot of game left.”

Winter Haven, which entered the game riding a 10-game winning streak, cranked up the defense early in the game, took a lead, and then slowed down the offense to take time off the clock. The Blue Devils took a 19-9 halftime lead.

“Great game plan and I thought we played great defense,”Winter Haven coach Johnnie Lawson said. “To hold a group like that to what we did (is amazing), but we got to rebound the basketball.

“It was the rebounding that killed us. We shot ourselves in the foot. They played great, that is why they are the defending state champions.”

Winter Haven, which has won five state championships in its storied history, was led by freshman Serenity Hardy with 18 points and five rebounds.

Dr. Phillips only loss this year came in December to Georgetown Visitation Prep.