TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - For three Big Bend boys basketball teams, the grind of the season ends this week. They've made it to the mecca- Lakeland, where dreams of a State title become reality. Lincoln High School doesn't take the floor until Friday, but two teams were on the hardwood on Tuesday afternoon.
Hamilton County got the day started off in the Class 1A State Semifinals against defending 1A State Champion Chipley. The Trojans led late in the fourth quarter, but thanks to Florida State signee Trent Forrest scoring 18 of his 36 points in the fourth, the Chipley Tigers came back to upset Hamilton County 56-53.
The Trojans were State Runner-up back in 2014, and head coach Patrick Murphy said being so closer to another State title hurts, and it was a game of missed opportunities.
"There was a couple times where we could have taken better care of the ball," he said after the loss. "There were a couple times where I was mad at myself for not calling a timeout. I saw the trap coming and I didn't call the timeout so as a coach, I'll beat myself up on that. Thought about it, but I just thought, we only have one left and I thought oh man should I call it, so that hurt. But yes, we could have taken better care of the ball for sure."
The FAMU DRS boys hit the court after in the 2A State Semifinals, as they took on Bradenton Christian. The Baby Rattlers have six State Championships to their name in boys hoops, but haven't won since 1997.
They trailed 35-15 at halftime, but even with a surge in the second half, DRS falls short, losing 61-44.
"We made a good run in the third quarter, but a lot of times when you dig a deep hole, it's very difficult to get out of that deep hole," said head coach Sean Crowe. "Overall, I think we played a good game, I just think we had a bad first half at an inopportune time."
Lincoln plays Friday in the Class 7A State Semifinals at 10am against St. Petersburg.
