The Buchholz Bobcats were just happy to be home in Saturday’s Class 6A-Region 1 Semifinal against Forest (Ocala), as the Bobcats’ defense ensured there would be at least another game this season.

Senior Jamison McTureous led three Buchholz players in double figures with 21 points, and the fifth-seeded Bobcats pulled away after a slow start to handle No. 8-seed Forest, 57-39, on Saturday at Bud Seymour Gymnasium.

Buchholz (21-7) advances to the region final next Saturday at Lake Howell (Winter Park). No. 2 seed Lake Howell had to work three overtimes to edge third-seeded Tocoi Creek (St. Augustine) 82-77. The winner of that game will advance to the 6A state semifinals at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville.

Buchholz made the long trip to Milton in the Panhandle in last week’s playoff opener and won, 44-41. They then got a chance to host the second-round game after Forest upset the top-seed Mainland (Daytona Beach), 57-55, on the road.

“It was a great crowd,” Buchholz coach Elliot Harris said. “I was a little worried early because I looked up and thought they must have started the game at 7:30. I looked up and saw a big crowd and it was an excellent environment.”

The first quarter was low scoring as Forest held a 10-9 edge.

The second period saw McTureous heat up. After a scoreless opening quarter, McTureous scored 10 points in the period as the Bobcats went ahead for good and opened up as much as a seven-point lead before settling for a 23-18 edge at the half.

“It was a great game for Jameson,” Harris said. “He started out attacking the basket and being aggressive. He missed his first two free throws, but after that, I don’t think he missed another free throw. He was getting to the basket and he definitely played big for us tonight.”

Buchholz started to open up the lead in the third period. Junior Jacob Bromirski hit back-to-back 3-pointers and senior Lucas Bhatia added another trey as the Bobcats outscored Forest 23-10 and took a 46-28 advantage into the final period.

Buchholz led by as many as 21 points multiple times in the second half. Bromirski finished with 13 points and senior Evan Walker was also in double figures for Buchholz with 10 points.

Senior Trey Chisholm led Forest (18-9) with 22 points.

“Our game plan was to make Trey a shooter and not a driver,” Harris said. “He got some points late, but we did a good job on him. I credit my coaching staff; they are the best staff in Florida.”

BOYS BASKETBALL
Saturday, Feb. 21

Region Semifinals 

Class 5A-Region 1

6 Columbia (Lake City) 57, 2 Ponte Vedra 43

Class 4A-Region 2

4 Eastside 47, 1 North Marion (Citra) 44

Class 3A-Region 1

1 Andrew Jackson (Jacksonville) 74, 5 Bradford (Starke) 48

2 Newberry 77, 3 Episcopal (Jacksonville) 49

Class 2A-Region 1

2 The First Academy (Orlando) 65, 6 P.K. Yonge 36

Region Finals

Rural-Region 3

1 Trenton 67, 2 Hilliard 51

Rural-Region 4

2 Williston 56, 1 Wildwood 52