Collett’s 29 helps St. Francis Catholic earn split with CCS

St. Francis Catholic's Brett Thomas (20) leads a fast break against Countryside Christian. Photo by C.J. Gish
St. Francis Catholic's Brett Thomas (20) leads a fast break against Countryside Christian.
Photo by C.J. Gish

Although there are no seniors on the boys team, it was Senior Night for Class 1A Countryside Christian School against Class 2A St. Francis Catholic Academy.

However, it was a Class of 2025 opposing guard who ended up having the biggest night.

St. Francis Catholic’s William Collett single-handily outscored CCS with 29 points in a 64-22 win.

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“Oh man, he’s been consistent all year long,” said St. Francis Catholic coach Larry Walker. “He’s been shooting the ball well and playing with energy. As he goes, we go. Once he gets started getting a couple of threes raining, he gets in a zone. The basket seems like it’s an ocean to him.”

St. Francis Catholic's William Collett (4) puts up a shot against Countyside Christian's Conner Vlaardingerbroek (5) and Nando Bolton (14). Photo by C.J. Gish
Photo by C.J. Gish St. Francis Catholic’s William Collett (4) puts up a shot against Countryside Christian’s Conner Vlaardingerbroek (5) and Nando Bolton (14).

Collett began the game with a pair of 3-pointers, followed by a pair of and-ones to give the Wolves a 12-1 lead at the end of the first quarter.

He said the key was getting into a rhythm.

“A lot of my teammates trusted me…to get shots, drive the lane, dribble drive, kick out, so it was really me trusting my teammates and my teammates trusting me that kind of got me going,” said Collett, who finished with four 3s on the night.

The 6’2 senior cooled off with just five points in the second quarter, but St. Francis went on a 21-0 run and led 33-1 on a free throw by 6’4 sophomore Colin Kuruppacherry (eight points) with 28 seconds left in the half.

The only second quarter points for CCS came with 20 seconds to play in the half on a short jump shot by sophomore Landon Law.

Junior Sander Williams scored all six of his points off the bench and junior Brett Thomas scored all five of his points in the quarter as the Wolves extended it to a 35-3 lead at the break.

It was the seventh straight win for the Wolves, who will play at Redeemer Christian (Ocala) at 6:30 p.m. on Friday. CCS, which dropped to 3-10, will play at Cedar Key at 7:30 p.m. on Friday.

Countryside Christian girls 38, St. Francis Catholic 30

The girls ensured that there would at least be a split with a 38-30 win against St. Francis.

“You never want to come out and do bad or lose on Senior Night,” said CCS girls coach Tambria Williams. “I think the girls were definitely motivated from that in the locker room and they did a much better job tonight than they have in the last couple of games of just communicating better and giving the extra effort.”

Countryside Christian's Nessy Colon (10) attempts to block a shot by St. Francis Catholic's Bitty Williams (20). Photo by C.J. Gish
Photo by C.J. Gish Countryside Christian’s Nessy Colon (10) attempts to block a shot by St. Francis Catholic’s Bitty Williams (20).

Senior Joy Sullivan celebrated with 18 points as the Minutemen improved to 8-4.

“She’s kind of stepped in really big since Sam (Keith) has been out,” Williams said. “She’s in her first year with us at Countryside. She’s just a great combo guard. She knows how to handle the ball, and she can definitely score.”

The Minutemen have been without second team All Area selection Samantha Keith for most of the season. The senior, who has been out since a couple of games into the season, has a torn ACL, meniscus, and MCL, according to Williams.

“It showed a little bit,” Williams said. “We’re trying to work as hard as we can. Luckily, we have a little bit of new personnel but it’s hard without her.”

Keith has been accepted to Liberty University and is likely to try and walk-on after she finishes her rehabilitation.

The Lady Wolves got within four, 29-25, on a layup by junior Allie Dey (team-high 16 points) with 6:41 remaining, but that’s as close as they would get.

Sophomores Riley Keith and Raye Morency and junior Vanessa Colon each scored five points apiece for CCS, which will play at Cedar Key at 6 p.m. on Friday.

St. Francis will play at Redeemer Christian (Ocala) at 5 p.m. on Friday.

St. Francis Catholic Academy and Countryside Christian players battle for a loose ball. Photo by C.J. Gish
Photo by C.J. Gish St. Francis Catholic Academy and Countryside Christian players battle for a loose ball.
St. Francis Catholic's William Collett (4) and Jonah Powers (1) trap Countryside Christian's Conner Vlaardingerbroek (5).
Photo by C.J. Gish St. Francis Catholic’s William Collett (4) and Jonah Powers (1) trap Countryside Christian’s Conner Vlaardingerbroek (5).
Countryside Christian's Nando Bolton (14) attempts to block a shot by St. Francis Catholic's Colin Kuruppacherry (22).
Photo by C.J. Gish Countryside Christian’s Nando Bolton (14) attempts to block a shot by St. Francis Catholic’s Colin Kuruppacherry (22).
Countryside Christian's Levi Watson (2) looks to pass against St. Francis Catholic's Liam Banks (2). Photo by C.J. Gish
Photo by C.J. Gish Countryside Christian’s Levi Watson (2) looks to pass against St. Francis Catholic’s Liam Banks (2).
Countryside Christian's Max Snider (1) drives to the basket gainst St. Francis Catholic's Cyrus Fariborzian (14). Photo by C.J. Gish
Photo by C.J. Gish Countryside Christian’s Max Snider (1) drives to the basket gainst St. Francis Catholic’s Cyrus Fariborzian (14).

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