Third year in a row the Panthers, Bulldogs meet for the trophy
St. Cloud's had it; Gateway wants it ... who will get it at Celebration on Friday?
Just like the last two years, the Bulldogs and Panthers will meet for the Orange Belt Conference girls basketball championship. They got there with Wednesday semifinal wins.
Gateway (17-4) went on matching 12-0 runs in the first and fourth quarters to defeat Harmony (10-7). Ashylnn Day and Alyssa Marino each scored 22 points; Day added seven rebounds and two steals and Marino had five rebounds three assists and two steals.
"I feel good about how we've played this week," GHS Coach Justin Marino said following the Wednesday's win and Tuesday's quarterfinal victory over Liberty Tuesday. "The kids know what's at stake (Friday)."
Jaymelee Montanez led the Longhorns with 21 points.
Meanwhile, St. Cloud (13-6) earned the chance to win the title for the third year in a row with a 55-29 win over Tohopekaliga (12-4).
"Gateway has proven to be the best team in the conference this season. We've used a dozen different line-ups this season and we are hoping that we can put one together that can give them a game," SCHS Coach Chad Ansbaugh said. "It will be interesting to see how the game is called and what team can get hot."
The Tigers will host Harmony in Friday's third-place game at 7 p.m. Celebration will host Poinciana the fifth-place game at 5 p.m., and Liberty will host Osceola in the 7th place game at 5 p.m. ahead of a boys game between Liberty and Lake Wales Vanguard.
