The top seed Williston Red Devils captured their first girls basketball state title on Friday night as they pulled away late for a 66-49 win over No. 2 seed Jay in the FHSAA Rural state championship game at UNF Arena in Jacksonville.
Sophomore Kierce Solomon was on fire for Williston, shooting 7-of-9 from three point range, and scoring a game-high 25 points. Senior Ashlyn Young had 15 points and junior Tiona Wilkinson added 10 points as the Lady Red Devils (21-2) outscored Jay, 20-9, in the fourth quarter to pull away for the win.
In his second season at Williston, Coach Willie Powers II won his third state title as a head coach, taking home championships with P.K. Yonge in 2010 and 2012.
“This one means a lot because there was a lot going on,” Powers emotionally said after the game. “I thought I would never come back to Jacksonville three years ago. I lost my mentor and my hero and I said I would never come back, but I came back to Jacksonville, and I know my dad is looking down on me tonight.”
Williston jumped out to a nine-point lead in the first quarter and led 20-12 after the opening period.
Solomon knocked down two 3-pointers, and Young and freshman Janiyah Span both had seven points apiece, as the Red Devils hit four shots behind the arc in that quarter.
“They were locked in, they were way more locked in (than Tuesday) and there was no stage fright,” Powers said. “Because you have to think we’ve never been here before. Building championship minds you have to put them in championship situations.”
Williston had a big scare in the semifinal game on Tuesday, rallying late to edge Blountstown, 43-41.
The two teams fought back and forth in the second quarter.
Jay (25-5) momentarily took the lead but Williston came back to take a 30-26 edge into halftime.
Solomon, whose brother is former Williston standout and current Philadelphia Eagles cornerback and Super Bowl Champion Quinyon Mitchell, really heated up in the third quarter. She hit three straight threes in the period and scored 11 of her 25 points, and Williston led 46-40 through three periods.
Solomon hit two more 3s in the final period as Williston finally pulled away from Jay for good.
“A big-time player does big time things in big time moments,” Powers said. “Her brother isn’t the only champion in the family anymore.”
Williston shot 42 percent from the floor and outrebounded Jay, 35-23, including 12-5 on the offensive glass. The Red Devils also had 15 assists to 13 turnovers.
“They went through it Tuesday (against Blountstown) and didn’t feel good about how they played,” Powers said. “They watched film, saw what we didn’t do right, and came in here tonight and executed the game plan.”
FHSAA basketball scores – Friday, Feb. 27
Rural State Championship
CSI Companies Court at UNF Arena (University of North Florida in Jacksonville)
1 Williston 66, 2 Jay 49 – Lady Red Devils (22-2) win first state title in program history
Class 3A-Region 1 Final
1 Bolles (Jacksonville) 68, 2 Newberry 34 – Panthers’ season ends at 21-5
BOYS
Rural State Championship
CSI Companies Court at UNF Arena (University of North Florida in Jacksonville)
1 Crossroad Academy (Quincy) 61, 2 Williston 56 – state runner-up Red Devils finish 21-8