Class 4A Final: Leesburg 66, Cardinal Gibbons 58

JACKETS CELEBRATE WINNING THE CLASS 4A BOYS BASKETBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP AT THE LAKELAND CENTER AGAINST FORT LAUDERDALE CARDINAL GIBBONS

 By ROY FUOCO,
LEDGER CORRESPONDENT

LAKELAND | Perhaps it was a good thing that Leesburg guard Joe Toolie had a bad shooting night in the semifinals. His coach knew it wouldn’t happen two games in a row.

Toolie scored 18 points to lead the Yellow Jackets to a 66-58 victory over Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons Saturday afternoon in the championship game of the 2011 FHSAA Class 4A Boys Basketball Finals at The Lakeland Center.

It was Leesburg’s second state title. The Yellow Jackets, who also were state runners-up twice, won their first title in 1977, the first year the state tournament was played at The Lakeland Center.

“Our guys worked hard this year, and it feels real good for this payoff in the state championships,” Leesburg coach Marcel Thomas said.

Toolie shot 1-for-9 from the field, including 0-for-4 from 3-point range, against Blake on Friday. Against Cardinal Gibbons, however, Toolie shot 6-for-9, including 5-for-7 from 3-point range.

“Yesterday (Friday), I was feeling a little woozy, but I’m feeling better today” Toolie said. “I didn’t plan on shooting that many 3s, but I was feeling it.”

Toolie’s shooting was part of an overall strong-shooting day by the Yellow Jackets (28-4), who shot 48 percent from the field including 52 percent in the second half.

“They shot better than I thought they could shoot,” Gibbons coach Marty Seidlin said. “We tried to get out on the kids who could shoot, and they made shots.”

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It was Toolie’s shooting that helped Leesburg to a double-digit lead in the first half, forcing the Chiefs to play catch-up. His first 3-pointer put Leesburg up 15-11 with 43 seconds left in the first quarter, and the Yellow Jackets led, 17-11, at the end of the quarter.

Toolie hit two 3-pointers in the second quarter with the second giving Leesburg a 13-point lead, 27-14. His fourth 3-pointer gave Leesburg a 16-point lead with 5:32 to play in the third quarter, which was enough of a cushion to hold off the Chiefs’ late comeback attempt.

Toolie’s shooting forced the Chiefs out of their zone, which helped open things inside for D’Mauri Jones, who finished with 17 points. Teron Wallace added 14 points.

Behind Brandon Bradley’s 23 points and Ben Mayell’s 18 points, the Chiefs got as close as six point with about four minutes left in the game, but Leesburg was ableto hold them off.

Cardinal Gibbons (58) — Bradley 10-18 3-4 23, Joe Hajj 3-7 0-0 6, Mayell 7-16 2-2 18, Neely 2-7 1-3 6, Moore 2-6 1-4 5, Maturah 0-0 0-0 0, Goosby 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 24-54 7-13 58.
Leesburg (66) — D.Jones 7-9 3-6 17, R.Jones 2-4 3-8 7, Toolie 6-9 1-2 18, Mitchem 2-10 0-1 4, Wallace 2-8 8-10, Roberts 0-1 0-0 0, Sherrod 0-0 0-0 0, Willis 2-2 2-2 6. Totals 21-44 17-29 66.
Halftime: Leesburg, 27-17. 3-point goals: CG 3-8 (Hajj 0-2, Mayell 2-3, Neely 1-3), Leesburg (Toolie 5-7, Mitchem 0-2, Wallace 2-5). Rebounds: CG 31 (Neely 9), Leesburg (R.Jones 7). Assists: CG 13 (Hajj 5), Leesburg 14 (Toolie 4, Mitchem 4, wallace 4). Total fouls: CG 31, Leesburg 30). Records: CG 19-8, Leesburgh 28-4.

   

Article provided by:
Gerald Lacey
Staff Writer
Carver Heights Quarterback Club
www.leesburgyellowjacketsbasketball.com

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