Basketball playoffs to resume tonight
Nine area boys basketball teams take the court tonight in a quest to reach Lakeland and the state final four.
Basketball playoffs to resume tonight Nine area boys basketball teams take the court tonight in a quest to reach Lakeland and the state final four. Check out this story on tallahassee.com: http://on.tdo.com/1aYIpRw
Democrat correspondent; Published 9:35 a.m. ET Feb. 13, 2014
Jalen Kinney and the rest of the Lincoln boys team will look to continue their season tonight with a win over Niceville. Mike Ewen/Democrat(Photo: Mike Ewen/Democrat)Buy Photo
It's one of the first goals set by coaches at the beginning of the season. The regular season schedule prepares for the pitfalls of a playoff game where a loss is no longer healthy. It's the end.
Lincoln coach Dimitric Salters watched his team battle twice in double overtime against rival Leon. One outcome was a loss, one outcome was a win for the district title.
All of the lessons learned will be on display tonight as the Trojans (18-7) host Niceville (9-17) in a 7A regional quarterfinal. All area games are set for 7 p.m. tip-offs. Leon (18-8) will travel to Crestview (21-7) on the other side of the bracket, with a potential fourth meeting between its rival looming in the semifinals should both win.
"They're a very patient team and don't make many mistakes," said Salters about the Eagles. "They play good half-court basketball and are well-disciplined, well-coached. We have to be focused on both ends throughout the game."
The Trojans, on many occasions, have used a pressing defense and the pickpocket nature of guard Jahvaughn Powell to dictate the pace of play and force the opposing team to make costly mistakes. They are errors which could lead to an extra possession or two or a few easy buckets that can create separation at the end.
"Our style is such that if you like to slow down, we'll speed you up," Salters said. "If you like to get up and down, we'll slow you down. We feel our system is designed to do one or the other. We've seen things in film we feel we can exploit."
In 5A, Rickards (14-9) will host Choctawhatchee, while Wakulla (12-13) is at Panama City Rutherford.
Class 4A sees an extremely challenging matchup for Godby (20-4) in hosting Marianna (21-4), who beat the Cougars, 76-50, earlier in the year. District runner-up Madison County (16-10) will travel to Pensacola Catholic (20-7), which has won 14 in a row.
Godby is led by sophomore guard Quan Jackson, while the rest of the starting lineup is comprised of another sophomore and three juniors.
"That's the main thing about getting older, understanding roles," Cougars coach Andy Colville said.
"Shooters shoot, rebounders rebound and everyone defends. It's a repetition thing. We had a lot of talent, but a lot of those guys hadn't played much. Even though they're talented, once you get in an organized system it may be a little different. There is a learning curve."
Among smaller schools, District 2-3A champion North Florida Christian (14-11) will host North Bay Haven, while runner-up Maclay (12-12) visits Rocky Bayou. And in 2A, FAMU DRS (18-8) and its scoring duo of J.T. Escobar (30 points per game) and Tre Anderson (20 points per game) will host Jacksonville's Temple Christian (18-9).
"We don't underestimate any team that we play," Rattlers coach Gene Granger said.
"Last year, we were in the same position of having a home game and we lost first game of the playoffs. We take every game as if it could be the last game of the season. Preparation and expectation is the same from everybody."
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