LAKELAND – Despite having a extremely taller height advantage, North Florida Educational Institute had no answer for stopping the Central Florida Christian duo of Bryce Street and Jordan Preaster.
The duo combined for 55 of the Eagles 72 points to lead the CFCA Eagles to their first state title with a 72-67 win over NFEI today in Lakeland.
NFEI starting five of sophomore 6-5 guard Savion Brown, senior 6-2 guard Kenneth Johnson, senior 6-9 forward Damir Brkljoca, junior 6-8 forward Deangelo Elisee and sophomore 6-6 guard Jashawnee Josephs over towered the smaller CFCA lineup featuring 6-1 Street, 6-5 Preaster, 6-2 Reece Gustafson and 6-5 Daniel Rivera.
Yet the smaller but quicker guards of Street and Preaster were not easy to cover.
Using a full court press, NFEI jumped out to an early 7-2 lead as things started off well.
That’s when things started to quickly unravel as the Eagles responded with a 6-1 run to quickly tie things at 8-8.
A Street jumper with 52 seconds left in the first quarter gave the Eagles their first lead of the game at 10-8 and they never looked back.
The game became a back and forth type of game as both teams would answer each other in the second quarter as both teams went into the locker tied at 31-31, 16 minutes from either school’s first state title.
It was a third quarter to forget for NFEI as CFCA went on a 21-10 run to pull away.
Deangelo Elisee jumper put NFEI ahead 34-33 a minute and half into the third quarter, however that would be their last lead of the game.
Preaster scored eight of the next nine points during about a two minute span to extend the lead to 43-36 midway through the third quarter.
When it wasn’t Preaster doing the damage it was Street taking over for the Eagles as converted two free throws, a pull up jumper and a three-pointer to extend their lead to 50-40 late in the third.
Preaster’s jumper gave the Eagles a 52-41 lead going into the final quarter as CFCA (21-10) was now eight minutes away from a possible state title.
As the fourth quarter began, Preaster stepped up with back-to-back shots for a 56-41 lead seconds into the quarter.
Anterius Washington, who scored a quite 15 points, banked in a shot to extend the lead to 18 points with four minutes remaining.
However as it appeared the season was dwindling down and the chance to bring home the schools first ever state title was slipping away, NFEI wouldn’t back down.
A 15-6 run by NFEI cut the lead to 69-60 with 21 seconds remaining giving them a slight chance of hope.
Yet, NFEI ultimately ran out of time as Saevion Brown nailed a three-pointer and a Elisee shot cut the lead to 72-67 as the time expired.
Brown led NFEI with 16 points and 4 rebounds, Kenneth Johnson contributed 13 points and 5 rebounds and Chandon Kelly added 10 points and 1 rebound.
While the loss stings, head coach Stacey Poole Jr. knows its only the continuation of a nine year program that continues to make steps towards bringing home the programs first ever state title.
Nine of the 13 players on the roster return including three of the five starters including Brown, Elisee and Josephs.
While Poole has only been there the last two years he knows the Eagles will likely be back in Lakeland again next year for a possible fifth trip and perhaps the fifth time will be the charm.
Editors note: Picture courtesy of Jake Perper
