SEFFNER — Seffner Christian looked somewhat sloppy Tuesday night, but even a little bit off the Crusaders still handily defeated visiting Fort Meade 65-29 in a Class 3A region semifinal.
“We don’t want to say that we knew we were going to win tonight, but we’ve been game planning for Friday maybe more than we should have,” Seffner Christian coach Greg Fawbush said. “I think a little bit of this was on me.”
It was the second year in a row SCA has knocked Fort Meade out of the playoffs. The Crusaders (24-5) beat the Miners 62-19 last season in the region quarterfinals.
“We have been looking at Friday night’s game,” junior Ally Parimore said. “We were thinking Friday, Friday, Friday. And I don’t think we worried enough about (Tuesday’s) game.”
All that being said, the Crusaders took control and were never threatened after a huge second quarter. Leading 17-7 after the first, SCA’s full-court press and transition took over and the Crusaders went on a 27-4 run in the second to blow the game open.
“We never really got into a rhythm (Tuesday) like we normally do,” Fawbush said. “But. hey, we’re moving on.”
Sabrina Whiting paced SCA with 22 points, including 15 in the first half. Teammate Peyton Walker (game-high 10 rebounds) added 15 while Sara Denny finished with 13. Seffner Christian will travel to face Mount Dora Bible, a 38-33 winner against Master’s Academy, in Friday’s region final.