Thanks to late free throw, Lake Worth High boys basketball edges Santaluces for district title

BOCA RATON — Calvin Sirmans made his coach sweat, but in the end, the Lake Worth sophomore knocked down the game-winning free throw with 0.4 seconds left as the Trojans edged Santaluces 60-59 to win the Class 7A-District 11 championship.

With the game knotted at 59-all, Sirmans was fouled on a 3-point attempt and stepped to the free throw line with three chances to give third-seeded Lake Worth the lead over No. 1 Santaluces. While he missed two free throws, all the Trojans needed was one to claim the district title at Spanish River High School. Sirmans delivered. 

“He’s big for our team,” Lake Worth coach Frank Baxley said. “He’s a sophomore so he’s got two more years, and hopefully he doesn’t have me sweating as much on the sideline missing two free throws.”

Sirmans' free throw capped a frantic finish. With the Chiefs (12-3) down by three with 11 seconds left in the game, Dashley Estime drained a 3-pointer over two defenders to tie the game at 59. However, that was plenty of time for Sirmans to drive down the court and draw a foul.

The Trojans (9-3) had to fight their way to get to that point, as their first lead of the game came with seconds left in the third quarter. Lake Worth tied the game on a 4-point play with 47 seconds remaining in the period, and took the lead shortly after. The Trojans held that lead until Estime's 3. 

Santaluces jumped out to a 20-16 lead after one quarter, and at halftime led 30-27.

“We knew that we were hurting ourselves,” Baxley said. “We just couldn’t get settled in on the offensive end. Defensively, we were doing ok. They were scoring on us, but it was mainly in transition. When we were able to settle down on offense … that’s when we knew we could get the lead in the game.”

Santaluces' bench outscored the Trojans' reserves 21-2, but Lake Worth's starting five, led by Marvin Golf with 15 points, was enough for the victory, ending the Chiefs' 12-game winning streak.

“Huge win for us,” Baxley said. “It means everything for this program and these kids.”

Both Lake Worth and Santaluces advance to the state tournaments as district finalists.

Lake Worth will host Coral Springs in the regional quarterfinals Thursday while Santaluces will travel to Coconut Creek-Monarch.

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