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Blake Hangs On To Top Jesuit 53-51

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By NICK WILLIAMS

nwilliams@tampatrib.com

Published: January 17, 2009

TAMPA - The first meeting of the season between the Blake and Jesuit boys basketball teams ended on a last-second shot at the buzzer.

With Jesuit ahead by two, Blake missed a basket as time expired.

Friday, in a game that would decide first place in Class 5A-District 10, Blake and Jesuit battle to another thrilling ending.

With the clock winding down, Blake's Montrey Pride blocked a jump shot by Jesuit's Eric McGriff to seal a 53-51 victory.

Jesuit trailed by double digits early in the fourth quarter but went on a 16-4 run to tie the game at 45 with 2:08 left. The teams traded baskets until, with 9.3 seconds left, Blake junior center Michael McFarland broke free for a one-handed jam during a fast break. McFarland scored eight of Blake's final 10 points to keep his Yellow Jackets (14-4, 9-2) in the game.

"When times got rough, we just had to pull through," said McFarland, who finished with a game-high 16 points. "They came from behind last time to beat us."

McGriff led Jesuit (13-4, 8-3) with 13 points.

"It took us a long time to get going," Jesuit coach Neal Goldman said. "There were a lot of crazy plays at the end."

Blake coach Winston Davis said a 14-4 record is the best the Yellow Jackets have had in four years. "I tell the guys it's hard to get to the top and even harder to stay there."

WOLVES EDGE BULLS: Newsome moved one step closer to clinching the top seed in Class 5A-District 8 with a 60-54 win vs. Bloomingdale.

Samal Shepherd scored a game-high 25 points for Newsome (11-3, 8-1). Sean Hayes led Bloomingdale (13-5, 5-4) with 21 points.

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