Boys basketball state finals
All games at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland. Admission is $10 in advance, $13 on the day of the event. Parking is $10.
Class 3A
Bishop McLaughlin (22-6) vs. Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian (19-7), 4:30
How they got here: Bishop McLaughlin d. Calvary Christian 62-48, d. Carrollwood Day 84-66, d. Fort Myers Canterbury 47-42, d. Andrew Jackson 79-71. Calvary Christian d. Jupiter Christian 78-63, d. Boca Raton Saint Andrew’s 61-58, d. Lakeland Santa Fe Catholic 75-58, d. Miami Country Day 69-51.
Top players: Bishop McLaughlin: G Emanuel Sharp, Jr. (23.6 points, 4.2 assists, 1.8 steals per game); F/G Dillon Mitchell, Jr.(18.0 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.0 blocks per game); F/G Anthony Davis Jr., Jr. (12.1 points, 4.3 rebounds per game). Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian: F Taylor Hendricks, Jr. (14.4 points, 9.2 rebounds per game); G Marvel Allen, So., (13.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists per game); G Gregg Glenn, Jr. (14 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists per game).
Outlook: Bishop McLaughlin has not only made school history by reaching the final for the first time but also Pasco history by becoming the first team from the county to play in the title game since Zephyrhills in 1960 and ‘62. The Hurricanes are in this position thanks to the shooting performance of junior playmaker Emanuel Sharp, who scored a team-high 39 points to lead his team past two-time defending state finalist Jacksonville Andrew Jackson in Wednesday’s semifinals. Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian is in the final for the first time since winning its first title in 2017. The Eagles are ranked first in 3A, seventh overall in the state and 15th nationally by MaxPreps. They will have a considerable height advantage with four players who are 6-foot-8 or taller.
