FLEMING ISLAND - Fleming Island forward Nate Lowery’s long-range shooting allowed host Fleming Island to pull away from Orange Park, capturing the District 3-5A boys basketball championship with a 58-34 win on Friday, February 7.
In the district 2-6A championship game at Fletcher High School, Oakleaf lost a 20-11 first quarter edge in the fourth quarter with Fletcher tying at 30-30 and winning eventually 33-30 to thwart the Knights title hopes. Oakleaf scored just three points in the fourth quarter.
In the Fleming Island vs. Orange Park final, Lowery turned the game in the hosts’ favor with two three-pointers during a 9-0 Golden Eagles run to start the second half, extending a 20-15 halftime lead to 14 points. The 6’3” junior then hit two more triples as part of a 10-0 run in the fourth quarter that gave the hosts an insurmountable 56-29 lead with 3:13 remaining. Lowery, who scored a game-high 14 points, only missed once in the second half.
“That was big,” Fleming Island head coach Travis Chandler said of Lowery’s barrage. “When we can get our shooters hitting shots, and the shots are falling, that is going to be great for our team. One thing that we know is that we are going to play defense. They’re going to give us everything that they’ve got on that end of the floor. Once the ball starts going through the basket, I think we can beat anybody.”
Fleming Island center Carson Crawford had a double double for the Golden Eagles with 13 points and 10 rebounds, while Greenidge finished with 10 points. Fleming Island’s tenth consecutive win runs their record to 22-5. The fourth-ranked Golden Eagles will host a Regional quarterfinal on Wednesday, February 12. Chandler has his sights set on more than just a regional championship.
“The state championship is always the goal,” Chandler said. “I think we’re playing really good basketball at the right time of the year, and that is what is important. I think we have the depth to create an opportunity to win the title."