Regulation was not enough to decide the 2026 FHSAA Rural state title on Friday night.
Top seed Crossroad Academy (Quincy) and No. 2 seed Williston were tied after three quarters and deadlocked at the end of 32 minutes of action.
Williston was down by only two with 42 seconds to play in overtime, but late free throws helped the Scorpions (21-3) win their first state title in program history, 61-56, at the University of Florida in Jacksonville.
Neither team was able to score on their final possession in regulation, ensuring another four minutes of action.
“Just a good high school basketball game, just what we thought it would be,” said Williston basketball coach Jim Ervin, who has led the Red Devils to three state title game appearances in four seasons. “It came down to a last possession there and our youth showed up the end of the fourth quarter, not being patient enough to get the last one there, but you know they had a good defensive stand.”
After Williston sophomore Jacques “Jac” Edwards Jr. (7 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals) made two free throws to cut the deficit to two, 56-54, with :42 seconds remaining in overtime, the Scorpions iced the game.
Crossroad Academy made five free throws, including four in a row by senior Trenton Jones (7 points, 6 rebounds), in a 22 second span.
For the game, the Scorpions shot 30 free throws and made 19, while Williston was perfect with just 10 attempts.
“Difference was we didn’t get to the free throw line enough tonight,” Ervin said. “When you don’t get to the free throw line, and they’re getting to the free throw line, it’s tough. It was tough.”
Despite being outscored by nine points at the foul line, the Red Devils (21-8) were still in position in regulation for their third state title since 2023.
Late in the fourth quarter, Williston freshman Kyson Chever (11 points) converted an and-one for a 46-44 lead with 4:34 to play, followed by a layup by sophomore Treston Jones (8 points, 7 rebounds) for a 48-44 lead with 3:36 remaining in regulation.
However, baskets by Crossroad Academy seniors Camari Hale (team-high 20-points) and Mason Mobley (7 points) got the game into overtime.
All of Hale’s points came from off the bench as the Scorpions’ bench outscored the Red Devils, 30-4.
From there it see-sawed back-and-forth.
Williston senior Traeston Armstrong opened the scoring in the extra period with a layup and a 50-48 lead with 3:28 remaining in overtime.
The Scorpions answered on a left baseline jumper by Hale, who got fouled and converted the free throw for a 51-50 lead.
But a jumper by Armstrong gave the Red Devils the lead again, 52-51, with 2:34 remaining.
“He played outstanding, especially that second half,” Ervin said. “I thought he played really well.”
Williston outscored Crossroad Academy, 38-24, in the paint, and 12-5 in second chance points.
But they were outscored, 13-8, in overtime.
“It’s hard to accept considering we felt we were the best team in the state last year, and had a lot of injuries down the stretch, and felt if we wouldn’t have been hurt, we would have won a state title last year,” Ervin said. “Obviously with a young group, we had an opportunity to win it this year and didn’t get it done, but what are run by these kids. What a group of young men that they’re going to come back for many years now and compete for state titles every year.”
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