Class 3A boys: Rickards completes unbeaten season

LAKELAND — The Rickards High boys basketball team didn't care that Pine Crest had won the Class 3A state title the past two seasons.

The Raiders didn't care they were considered an underdog going against a more experienced postseason team with arguably one of the best players in the country.

All that mattered to Eli Bryant's team was accomplishing what it had set out to do all season: win the 3A state title.

And Rickards did just that, defeating Pine Crest 70-46 to cap off an undefeated season and silence the loud Pine Crest contingency.

"In all honesty, it's what we expected," Bryant said.

The only thing that surprised Bryant this season was that his team went undefeated. But after defeating East Gadsden in the District 2-3A championship game, Rickards had no choice but to go undefeated.

After a slow start, Avery Moore led Rickards with 23 points, eight rebounds, two assists and two steals. Jakari Bush had 17 points, five assists and three steals, Terry Johnson had 16 points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals for the Raiders (27-0), while Chris Bryant added eight points, six rebounds and three blocks.

Rickards fell behind 10-4 in the first quarter, but came back to tie it up 11-11 on a basket by Chris Bryant in the final minute.

The Panthers (25-5) went on a 7-0 run in the opening minutes of the second quarter to take an 18-11 lead. Johnson helped Rickards close the gap to 18-17 with two consecutive 3's near the five-minute mark.

Fred Griggs put Rickards on top 19-18 with a steal and basket with 4:45 remaining. Moore, who had been scoreless the first 14 minutes of the game, scored eight quick points in the last two minutes of the second quarter to give Rickards a 29-25 halftime lead.

"I think when I first came out I was too anxious," Moore said. "Then Coach Avery (Curry) told me, 'Keep shooting. Play your game.'"

Rickards held Pine Crest's star player, senior guard Brandon Knight, to four points in the first half. Knight, a McDonald's All-American and highly touted Division I prospect, wasn't at his best Thursday after sustaining a groin injury in Wednesday's semifinal game.

"It's just frustrating not being able to do all the things you can do," Knight said. "I tried to do the best I could, that's about it."

Knight would go on to score 14 points for Pine Crest in the second half. He brought the Panthers within a shot of Rickards with a fadeaway jumper early in the third quarter, but Moore drained three more 3's to help Rickards take a 45-40 lead into the fourth quarter.

Knight started the fourth quarter with a layup to make it a 45-42 game.

"He's pretty quick," said Johnson, who guarded Knight throughout the game.

Knight fouled out with 1:08 remaining in the game and his team down 64-46. Pine Crest was then charged with a technical foul when the bench players left the bench area to congratulate Knight.

Johnson helped Rickards capitalize by knocking down four free throws to make it 68-46.

Coach Bryant emptied his bench in the game's last minute. In the closing seconds, Griggs came up with a steal and Jordan Gregory made a shot at the final buzzer.