Mike Ridaught
The Hitchcock’s Challenge at Santa Fe High School was just that, a challenge, prior to the 4-day boys basketball tournament in Alachua.
The Legacy Park Multipurpose Center flooded so all games were moved to the Raiders’ home floor.
Two teams dropped out to bring the field from 16 teams down to 14 just over 10 days prior to the first game.
Then, Fort White dropped out on Christmas Eve, leaving Santa Fe coach Glen Banks with an uneven number of participating teams.
But none of that mattered on Thursday night.
Senior guard Don’trell Jenkins (16 points) hit a game-winning 3-pointer from the top of the key with seven seconds remaining to lift the Raiders (8-5) to a 45-43 overtime win against Class 6A No. 6 Nease (Ponte Vedra).
“Nease is a very good team,” Banks said. “They are so disciplined. I thought we defended them well down the stretch and that won us the game.”
Santa Fe will play Jordan Christian Prep (Auburndale) in the championship game tomorrow at 4:30 PM.
Suwannee (Live Oak) was also a winner in overtime.
The Bulldogs (5-9) edged Godby (Tallahassee), 54-53, as three players scored in double figures.
Junior Bobby Hawkins had 14 points, followed by seniors Mikal Lett (13) and Kaden Nash (10).
Newberry’s bid to bring home a tournament title came up just short at the Bronson Holiday Classic.
The Panthers (9-2), who are ranked No. 1 in the state in Class 1A, lost to No. 8 Hilliard, 56-55, in the championship game.
Keystone Heights (9-7) defeated Tavares, 83-40, in the third-place game, while Chiefland cruised past Branford, 71-34, in the consolation championship.
Host Bronson won its first game of the tournament with a 52-46 win against Bell (3-11). Dylan Homan led the Eagles (5-8) with 20 points.
P.K. Yonge’s run for a championship at the Kingdom of the Sun at Vanguard (Ocala) came to an end.
The Blue Wave (5-5) lost to Olympia (Orlando), 62-46, in the semifinals.
Olympia (10-0), the overall No. 1 team in Florida according to MaxPreps, will play Class 7A No. 3 Winter Haven for the title. Winter Haven defeated previously unbeaten and No. 3 overall Providence (Jacksonville), 53-36, in the other semifinal.
Gainesville High defeated Bryan Station (Lexington, KY), 67-57, on the final day of the Kelleher Law Holiday Hoopfest in Naples.
Joshua Hayes had a game-high 23 points, including nine in a 27-point fourth quarter that helped the Hurricanes rally from a 3-point deficit heading into the final quarter.
Anthony Leivonen added 17 points in his first start of the season for GHS (10-4), which went 2-1 at the 3-day tournament.
Boys Basketball scores – Thursday, Dec. 29
Bronson 52, Bell 46 (7th-place)!
Buchholz 65, Lake Buena Vista 50#
Chiefland 71, Branford 34 (Consolation championship)!
Gainesville 67, Bryan Station (Lexington, KY) 57%
Hawthorne 49, Valdosta (GA) 46*
Hilliard 56, Newberry 55 (Championship)!
IMG National 67, The Rock School (national team) 58@
Keystone Heights 83, Tavares 40 (3rd-Place)!
Mater Academy Charter (Hialeah Gardens) 43, Eastside 40^
Mount Pisgah Christian (Johns Creek, GA) 74, The Rock School (regional team) 47^
Olympia (Orlando) 62, P.K. Yonge 46*
Santa Fe (Alachua) 45, Nease (Ponte Vedra) 43 (OT)^
Santa Fe (Alachua) 72, Steinbrenner (Lutz) 50^
St. Augustine 48, Bradford (Starke) 43 (Girls)&
Suwannee (Live Oak) 54, Godby (Tallahassee) 53 (OT)^
Williston 48, Alonso (Tampa) 38$
*Kingdom of the Sun at Vanguard (Ocala)
^Hitchcock’s Challenge at Santa Fe (Alachua)
!Bronson Holiday Classic
$Nature Coast (Brooksville) Holiday Tournament
%Holiday Hoopfest at Golden Gate (Naples)
#Jim Clark Classic at Bishop Moore (Orlando)
&Jarvis Williams Holiday Tournament at Palatka
@Chick-Fil-A Classic (Columbia, SC)
