Marty Pallman
It was a historic season for Buchholz boys basketball and first-year head coach Elliot Harris.
But none of that mattered last night after the fourth-seeded Bobcats were eliminated from the playoffs with a 71-62 loss at top-seed Wiregrass Ranch (Wesley Chapel) in a Region 1-6A semifinal.
The Bobcats finished the season with an 18-11 record, capturing only their second winning season in the last 12 years and their first regional playoff victory in 15 years last week with a win over Forest (Ocala).
Buchholz stayed within single digits of Wiregrass Ranch (26-3) most of the game, but never led after early in the second period.
Senior Gabe Thompson hit back-to-back 3-pointers and Buchholz exchanged the lead with Wiregrass Ranch most of the period. The Bulls ended up with a 20-19 lead at the end of the quarter.
Senior Palmer Walton heated up in the second quarter after a slow start. Walton scored five of his team-high 19 points in the period.
But Wiregrass Ranch pulled away to as much a nine-point lead before settling for a 36-31 edge at halftime. Junior K.J. Smith scored nearly half of the Bulls points, with 17 of his game-high 24 points coming in the first half.
“They just made more plays,” Harris said. “Every time we cut it to five they would get a rebound and kick it out for an open shot to extend the lead.”
Wiregrass Ranch extended the lead to as many as 11 points in the third quarter, but Buchholz answered back to stay within striking distance. Walton and senior Collin Dunmore each scored six points, but Wiregrass Ranch extended their lead to 54-47 going to the final quarter.
Buchholz never got closer than five points in the fourth period, and Wiregrass Ranch made five-of-six free throws down the stretch to put the game away.
“This team has had three coaches in the last four years,” Harris said. “We didn’t think we would turn it around this fast, but these guys believed. It stings tonight, but these guys have helped build a legacy.”
Wiregrass Ranch, who had never been past the region semifinal, hosts No. 2 seed Ponte Vedra on Friday with a trip to the state semifinals on the line. Host Ponte Vedra eliminated Gainesville 58-44 last night.