Indians struggle early, pull away late in 73-62 win over Central Florida
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DUSTIN KENT / Jackson County Floridan
Published: March 5, 2008
The Panhandle Conference champions missed 14 free throws and shot just 2-of-15 from the 3-point line but did enough Wednesday to take a 73-62 win over Central Florida in the first round of the FCCAA state tournament.
Chipola advances to face Indian River Friday in the semifinals at 6 p.m.
The championship game will be Saturday at 5 p.m.
The Indians led 31-27 at halftime Wednesday night and actually trailed in the early stages of the second half before starting to pull away midway through the half.
"I thought it was a tale of two halves," Chipola coach Greg Heiar said after the game. "I think with the 10 days off, our timing was a little off in the first half. We were settling for jumpers instead of going to the basket."
Heiar said the locker room scene at the half wasn't as intense as it might otherwise be in similar circumstances.
"Normally, I would be upset after a half like that," the coach said, "but I basically gave them an excuse with the time off and said 'let's go out and get it together in the second half.'
"We started attacking the basket more in the second half and it paid off for us."
The Patriots took their first lead of the game in the opening minute of the secnod half after two free throws by De'Andre Duncan capped an 11-0 run to make it 32-31 Central Florida.
A 3-pointer by Duncan gave the Patriots their biggest lead of the game at 37-34, but Chipola responded with a bucket by Jon Kreft, who scored 11 of his 15 points in the second half, a free throw by Gary Flowers and a straight-away bank shot by Kreft to regain the lead.
A pair of free throws by Kreft, a dunk by Flowers and a bucket by Mario Edwards made it 49-42 Chipola with 11:36 to play.
Another basket by Kreft off of a feed from Edwards put the Indians up double figures at 56-46 with 8:07 to play.
Central Florida would get no closer than eight points the rest of the way.
Heiar said that he was happy just to see the first round in the rearview mirror.
"You're always glad to get the first (tournament game) out of the way after the long break," the coach said. "Plus, we get a day of rest before we have to face a really good Indian River team. That's going to be a great challenge for us."
Indian River defeated Manatee 99-92 Wednesday.
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