Sheila Mader
Floridan Correspondent
Published: February 25, 2008

While the Marianna Bulldogs were across town battling to get into the final four of state championship tournament, the Chipola Indians were setting records on their court notching the most wins ever by a Chipola basketball men’s team with an 87-77 win over Gulf Coast.

The Indians were already assured of their fifth district championship and a return trip to the state tournament at game time Saturday night.

The Milton H. Johnson Health Center was packed with an enthusiastic crowd that ignited the Indians in their quest to set the most wins record.

Coach Greg Heiar put an all-sophomore squad on the court to start the game in honor of their ‘senior’ year.

Behind 0-4 with just two minutes off the clock, Antwon Hall nailed a three pointer to make it a one point game before Mario Little added a bucket to give the Indians their first lead of the game. With a see-saw score for the next ten minutes, the Indians took a 23-22 with 7:44 left to go in the first half of play and never trailed throughout the rest of the game.

At the half, Chipola held a 41-33 advantage.

Chipola’s Gary Flowers took the floor for the first time in the second half and immediately made his presence known with a layup to up the deficit to ten. Mario Edwards added a three and the tone was set. Gulf Coast battled back to within one with just over seven minutes left to play in the game before Malik Alvin went 1-for-1 from the line and Torye Pelham added consecutive layups to put the Indian lead at six.

Casey Mitchell got in on the action with a shot from downtown before the Commodores were able to answer with a two-point shot. Jon Kreft added the last points of the game with 3.1 seconds left in the game.

The Indians were led in scoring by Mario Little with 21 points, followed by Kreft with 12 and Vernon Teel with ten.

The Indians will now prepare for a repeat run at a state championship March 5-8 at the Milton H. Johnson Health Center. Tournament passes are available at the business office at Chipola.