There was an air of inevitability to the Pinellas County summer league title game. The bracket was built for it. The fans wanted it. The players anticipated it. 

They all got it. 

Calvary Christian and Gibbs, the county’s top two boys basketball teams throughout June, met in the championship game this past Thursday. 

Both programs were predicted title contenders due in large part to having veteran players already used to being in big games. 

After all, the Gladiators advanced to the Class 4A state semifinals for the second straight season and the Warriors reached the 3A region semifinals this past year. 

In the final, Gibbs led by a point at the half, then pulled away for a 57-44 victory. 

The title capped off a grueling stretch in which the Gladiators played 30 games this past month, going 24-6. 

That included team camps throughout Florida against some of the best teams in the state. 

“We wanted to be tested,” Gibbs coach Larry Murphy said. 

After reaching the state semifinals in consecutive seasons, the Gladiators want to take the next step by getting to the final.

They have the talent to do it. 

Of the 16 players on last year’s roster, only three were seniors. The returners include three of the top four leading scorers, led by Jacob Daniels, who averaged 16.8 points per game.

Besides scoring, Gibbs also has size. 

Bobby Crawford and Michael Broxton are both 6-foot-7, giving the Gladiators one of the most imposing frontcourts in the area. 

And then there is the addition of freshmen Oneal Delancey and Robert Williams.  

“We have more length and more depth,” Murphy said. “This is a team that can contend for a state title.”

Calvary Christian entered the championship game undefeated in the summer league play, including a win over the Gladiators two weeks ago, and owned the top seed. 

Daniel Macgregor, who has picked up offers from Florida Gulf Coast and Dartmouth recently, has teamed with Ace Taylor to provide a solid 1-2 scoring punch. 

“The kids have all bought in and worked really hard and, of course, it doesn’t hurt to have two seniors on the team as talented as Daniel and Ace,” Warriors coach Keb Burley said of his team’s success this summer. 

Funeral services for Bernard Reedy Sr.

There will be two days of services this week for former longtime Pinellas County boys basketball referee Bernard Reedy Sr., who passed away last month.

On Friday, a wake will be held at New Pleasant Grove Baptist Church (3455 21st Ave. S., St. Petersburg) from 4-6 p.m. and a fish fry at Torianos (1059 62nd Ave. S., St. Petersburg) from 6 p.m.-until. 

On Saturday, there will be A Celebration of Life at Bethel Metropolitan Baptist Church (3455 26th Ave. S., St. Petersburg at 11 a.m. and a repast at Childs Park Recreation Center (4301 13th Ave. S., St. Petersburg) from 3-7 p.m.

Barry Brown Jr. to play for Suns Summer League team

Former Gibbs star Barry Brown Jr., who has shined playing basketball overseas, will be on the Phoenix Suns’ Summer League team. 

Brown Jr. led the Gladiators to the state final four before guiding Kansas State to the Elite Eight in 2018. 

This past season, Brown Jr. played in France for Metropolitans 92 alongside Victor Wembanyama, who was selected No. 1 overall by the Spurs in last month’s NBA Draft. 

Three county players make all-state teams

St. Petersburg’s Tristan Gross, a Stetson signee who led the Green Devils to the state semifinals, was named first-team, all-state in Class 5A by Source Hoops. 

The 2023 graduate, who averaged 17.7 points and 6.7 rebounds, was among three county players named to the all-state team in their respective classification.

Gibbs’ Jacob Daniels, who will be a junior, was named to the 4A second team after averaging 16.8 points, 4 rebounds and 3.7 assists while leading the Gladiators to the state semifinals. 

Daniel Macgregor, a rising senior who led Calvary Christian to the 3A region semifinals, was a third team selection in that class. He averaged 21.8 points, 7.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game this past season. 

Marquel Cason hired at Boca Ciega

After four seasons turning around Canterbury’s basketball program, Marquel Cason is leaving to take over at Boca Ciega. 

Cason, a former standout at Northeast, showed steady progress during his tenure with Crusaders, going from 6-20 in 2019-20 to 19-11 and a region final appearance this past season. 

He will try to create some stability with the Pirates, who have gone through three coaches in as many years. 

Marreese Speights named assistant at Georgia Southern

Former Gibbs/Admiral Farragut standout Marreese Speights, who played nine seasons in the NBA, was hired as an assistant at Georgia Southern. 

Speights was part of a national champion team with Florida and won an NBA title with Golden State. He then spent the past few years guiding a successful travel team and post graduate program in St. Petersburg. 

This is the first collegiate job for Speights, who joins an Eagles program that went 17-16 last season.

Ryan Pannone joins Alabama’s staff

Former Oldsmar Christian coach Ryan Pannone was hired as an assistant at Alabama. 

At Oldsmar, Pannone went 131-42 from 2006-11. He went to coach with several professional teams overseas before joining the New Orleans Pelicans’ staff, first as a head coach of their G-League team, then as an assistant this past season with their NBA team.

Pannone joins a Crimson Tide program that reached the sweet sixteen last season.