Lakeland FL- Six lead changes in the first quarter thought to set up an exciting game between Hilliard and Vernon. However Jacob Crews and company had other plans as the Red Flashes defeated Vernon 80-59 to advance to the Class 1A State Championship game.
Crews finished the game with 29 points scoring 16 points in the first half to lead his team. He was flawless from the free throw line going 8 for 8. He shot 3 of 8 from 3-point land, while also grabbing 13 rebounds.
Crews wasn’t the only play makers for Hilliard. Leading 32-23 at halftime, Hilliard started to receive other contributions from their well balanced team. Trey Rush and and Jelan Jones both scored 13 points, scoring the bulk of them in the second half. They hit open shots when the Vernon defense attempted to rotate to stop Crews. They both went 6 of 8 from the field.
The biggest benefactor for Hilliard was Shemar Melton who scored 15 points for the Red Flashes. In the third quarter, as Vernon made a slight run to close the lead to 5 points, it was Melton who kept cool and calm going 5 of 6 from the field.With the win, Hilliard and Head Coach Myron Saunders move on to face the winner of Hawthorne and Paxton on 3/6/20 at 7pm. ” We are a patient team, we take our time and allow teams to make mistakes”– Myron Saunders
This was the Red Flashes first appearance in the Final 4 since 1979. Ironically, that year Vernon went on to win the 2A championship as Hilliard fell short in the Final 4. Hilliard hopes their win today erases the pain of loss from a distant past, and forges promise of present championship glory. They’ll get their shot on Friday.
Hilliard High Scorers:
Jacob Crews- 29pts, 13 Rebs
Shemar Melton- 15pts
Trey Rush- 13pts
Jelan Jones- 13pts
Vernon High Scorers:
Dyvion Bush- 18pts
Darrell Powell- 13pts
E.J Reddice 11pts
