Shooting slumps in FHSAA girls basketball state semifinal games ended the seasons for The Master’s Academy and Kissimmee City of Life on Wednesday afternoon in Lakeland.
Master’s Academy (17-8) trailed 15-1 at the end of the first quarter and never recovered during a 47-32 loss in Class 3A against Sarasota Cardinal Mooney (20-8).
The Eagles, state runner-up a year ago, closed out the first half by scoring seven consecutive points but were never able to hold a lead. Master’s got within 21-16 to start the third quarter before Cardinal Gibbons pulled away for good by going on an 8-0 run.
Master’s was held to 12-of-51 shooting from the field (24%) while being out-rebounded 41 to 28 in the loss. Hannah Kohn led team with 10 points and 13 rebounds. Kiara Harris tallied seven points and four steals.
City of Life (14-7) was outscored 30-1 in the second quarter during a matchup of top-ranked teams in Class 2A. Miami Christian (16-7), ranked No. 1 in the MaxPreps computer system, rolled to a 71-34 win in a game plagued by early turnovers and fouls by both teams.
The No. 2 Warriors scored the final seven points of the first quarter to take a brief 18-15 advantage when junior Gio Rodriguez bounced in a deep buzzer-beating shot from beyond the arc. Miami Christian responded immediately by scoring back-to-back buckets off turnovers to retake the lead.
City of Life, which turned the ball over 23 times, connected on only 27% of its attempts from the field (9-of-33) and was out-rebounded by a 29-15 margin.
Junior Sophia Chevres Rosado led the Warriors with 13 points.
LHP, Wekiva on stage: National No. 1 Lake Highland Prep (17-0) faces Jacksonville Bishop Kenny (20-9) in a Class 4A semifinal Thursday morning at 10 a.m. The defending state champion Highlanders are playing in the state tournament for the fourth year in a row.
Wekiva (23-3), state champs in 2019 and runners-up in 2020, play Winter Haven (18-1) in a clash of top-ranked teams in Class 6A. Winter Haven ranks No. 2 by MaxPreps while the Mustangs enter the game at No. 3.
State tournament games are being played at the RP Funding Center through Saturday. Admission for each game is $10 in advance and $13 on day of event. Parking is an additional $10. State semifinal games will be streamed live online through the NFHS Network subscription service.
This story was first published at OrlandoSentinel.com. J.C. Carnahan can be reached by email at jcarnahan@orlandosentinel.com.
Wednesday results
Class 3A
Sarasota Cardinal Mooney 47, The Master’s Academy 32
Miami Country Day 66, Tampa Brooks DeBartolo 44
Class 2A
Miami Christian 71, Kissimmee City of Life 34
Tallahassee FAMU 66, Naples First Baptist 22
Thursday schedule
Class 6A
Wekiva vs. Winter Haven, 6
Punta Gorda Charlotte vs. Ft. Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas, 8
Class 5A
St. Augustine vs. Melbourne Palm Bay, 2
Clearwater vs. Plantation American Heritage, 4
Class 4A
Lake Highland Prep vs. Jacksonville Bishop Kenny, 10 a.m.
Fort Pierce Lincoln Park vs. Delray Beach American Heritage, 12
