Dustin Kent
Floridan Sports Editor
Published: February 20, 2008

One game away.

The Marianna Bulldogs are now just one game away from making their first trip to the Final Four since 1985.

A 38-35 victory over Pensacola Catholic Tuesday night advance the Bulldogs to Saturday night’s 3A Regional Final against Florida High in Marianna.

Another win would put Marianna in the Final Four in Lakeland for the first time since its coach, Travis Blanton, went 22 years ago as a player for the Bulldogs.

“It’s definitely the biggest game for Marianna High School since 1985. I do know that,” Blanton said. “It’s the biggest game of my coaching career and the biggest game in the careers of the players.

“All that said, we just have to forget about all that and just go play ball.”

The Bulldogs reached this point by rallying from a six-point, fourth-quarter deficit Tuesday night on the road in Pensacola.

In a low-scoring affair, the Bulldogs trailed 16-15 at halftime and 29-23 going into the fourth period.

But a supreme defensive effort by Marianna in the final quarter enabled a Bulldog comeback.

“Being down six points in a game like that was like being down 12-15 in a normal game,” Blanton said of the game’s slow pace. “At that point, you just have to lay it on the line or go home. The kids responded defensively.

“We had to crank it up and give them everything we had. That’s what it took, every last drop.”

Brandon Gibson and T.J. Spencer led MHS with 12 points each, while Josh Jones added eight.

Blanton said he was proud of his team for overcoming such a difficult night offensively while playing in a hostile road environment.

“It’s huge. The kids showed heart and character, just a will to win,” the coach said. “Sometimes, you have to will yourselves to win and that’s what happened. Kids did a great job.”

The Bulldogs (25-3) now turn their attention to Florida High (16-15), which defeated Hamilton County 67-57 in its Regional Semifinal contest.

“They’re good. They’re real good,” Blanton said of the Seminoles. “They started out slow, but I think they’re playing great basketball right now.”

Blanton’s 1985 Bulldogs defeated Port St. Joe in the Regional Final before losing in the state semifinals to Jacksonville Bolles.

The former player and current coach said he didn’t feel the need to relay his experience 22 years ago to his players.

“They know what’s on the line,” Blanton said of his players. “We’re just going to try to keep them loose, have fun, work hard the next two days in practice and go out there Saturday night, let it all hang out and have the chips fall where they may.

“Our kids know what’s at stake. They’ve worked four years to be here. And whatever happens, I do know that these kids will take the memories to their grave.”

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Unfortunately for the other two Jackson County teams in playoff action Tuesday night, their seasons will not continue.

Sneads and Graceville both suffered defeats Tuesday night, with the Pirates falling to Pensacola Christian 59-46 and the Tigers being narrowly defeated by Paxton 45-40.

Sneads finished its season with a record of 17-9, while Graceville finished at 13-13.