By Ken Jackson
Sports Writer

After 32 minutes and 19 3-pointers, New Dimensions’ regional quarterfinal playoff game came down to one shot.

Trailing by one, Kepler Francois’s floating shot in the lane rolled off the rim as time expired, giving Clearwater Calvary Christian a 57-56 win Thursday in a Class 2A Region 3 game.

The Tigers (10-16) had clawed back after trailing by seven going into the final quarter, making it that much more painful for Coach Dustin Gassert and his team.

“They (Calvary) are an excellent shooting team, but we matched them shot for shot for a while,” Gassert said. “With how hard we played, it was definitely a heart breaker to watch a 4-foot floater rim out.”

The game was well played – there were more assists than turnovers and nobody missed a free throw until the fourth quarter – and the first quarter foreshadowed that, as New Dimensions took a 20-15 lead thanks to some hot shooting. Xavier Price, who led the Tigers with 16 points, scored nine in the first eight minutes.

But the Warriors (18-9) turned to a novel game plan in the second quarter: shoot nothing but three-pointers and let 6-11 center Kyle Wiedinger clean up the mess on the boards. Calvary hit five treys and Wiedinger, who nearly had a double-double by halftime, went 6-of-6 from the line in that frame, as the Warriors closed the half on a 13-0 run to take a 36-30 lead.

In the second half, Gassert changed his game plan. Senior Orlando Vargas (8 points) picked up his fourth foul and a technical late in the third quarter, and Price went down with a bad calf cramp midway through the fourth.

Trailing 57-53 with 19 seconds left, James Fuchs (13 points) drilled a three-pointer, then the Tigers fouled Wiedinger, who finished with 20 points, 13 rebounds and six blocks, and he missed both shots. Marc Serat (12 points) pulled down his 10th rebound, giving New Dimensions the ball with 14 seconds left, and Francois’ chance to win.

Gassert applauded his team’s defensive effort and for the way it came back.

“We did a solid job. I was extremely proud their big guy only scored on offensive rebounds and not their halfcourt game,” he said. “Xavier going down when he did was a momentum killer.

“We played our hearts out. Now we just go back to work. Next year starts tomorrow.”