Osceola, City of Life fall in boys hoops playoffs by total of 5 points
A frantic fourth period comeback fell one point short on Saturday night as Tampa Plant downed Osceola, 63-62, in a Class 7A, Region 3 semifinal on Nate Alexander Court.
Just a bit to the east, City of Life saw its season end with a tough 59-55 loss to Donahue Christian in a 1A, Region 3 semifinal that saw the Warriors battle back from an earlier deficit.
Osceola (22-6) trailed in the game by seven with five minutes to go. A 6-0 run, spurred by a couple of Jordan Mason layups, cut the lead to 51-50; but Plant was able to push the lead back to five. It remained close for the remainder of the game and when Abram Clements made two free throws, the Panthers took a 64-60 lead with just under 10 seconds to go.
Coming out of a timeout, Osceola hustled the ball up court and senior Helio Quinan buried a three from the top of the key. Plant was able to get the ball inbounds and run out the final seconds for the win.
“We told our guys that if we made a three, to foul them before they could get the ball inbounds. It would still give us a chance to heave a three for the tie or the win, regardless of whether they made their free throws,” Osceola coach Steve Mason said. “Helio made the three and we fouled, but the official either didn’t see it or didn’t call it and they got the ball in.”
The third quarter, combined with some outstanding free throw shooting by Plant, spelled the true difference in the game. The Panthers erased a three-point deficit by outscoring Osceola, 17-7, in the third when Osceola managed just a three-pointer by Jahmel Hill and a couple of layups by Mason; while Plant dominated the quarter inside – scoring 14 points in the paint and on the foul line.
With Osceola having three more field goals than their opponents in the game (23-20), Plant won the game at the line. They made their first 15 free throw attempts and 17 of 19 for the game (89.5%).
Those stats were eerily reminiscent of last year’s Regional Championship 64-61 loss to Sarasota, where the Sailors overcame a nine-point halftime deficit by making their first 12 free throws and hitting 21 of 23 (91.3%) from the line.
“We will offer no excuses,” Coach Mason said. “When you don’t play your best in the playoffs, you lose and we didn’t play very well. Give Plant credit, they moved the ball well, took advantage of their inside game and made their free throws.”
Both teams played extremely well in the first half. Osceola shot 48.1%, including hitting five of nine three-pointers; while Plant hit 52.3% in the half and made five of eight beyond the arc. Both teams limited turnovers and after Plant held a 18-12 advantage after one, Osceola outscored the Panthers by nine in the second to forge a three-point lead (34-31).
As has been the case all season, seniors Luke McCrimon and Mason led the way with 20 and 17 points respectively. Quinan added 13 in his final appearance. Plant (23-6) placed four players in double figures, including Jonah Daniel (16). Brayden Galuski and Makos Morrison added 13 each and Clements finished with 14.
“Could not be prouder of these seniors, including our three-year starters Luke, Jordan and Helio,” Coach Mason added. “In three years they finished with two OBC and three district championships and three regional appearances, an Elite Eight and Sweet 16.”
Those three leave Osceola with a combined record of 61-23, including a 47-10 mark over the last two years.
Over at City of Life, the Warriors (22-7) A fell behind 11-0 at the start of the game but battled back. Sam Perez led City of Life with 19 points; while senior Jahkeema King had 16 points and seven rebounds.
“Donahue was a really well-coached team and jumped on us early,” COLCA Coach Wendell Perez said. “Our guys did a great job of battling back and cutting the deficit to five at the half. Still, it was a great season for us. We won 22 games and won the SSAA State Championship for the first time in school history and won our first regional playoff game.”
