JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Ponte Vedra boys basketball team will face Blanche Ely on Friday in Lakeland for the state championship. A look at the matchup.
Class 5A boys basketball state semifinals
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Ponte Vedra (22-8) vs. Blanche Ely (19-9)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Where: RP Funding Center, Lakeland.
Watch it: Game can be streamed on the NFHS Network. Cost applies for a monthly pass.
Road here: Ponte Vedra d. Pensacola Booker T. Washington, 67-57; d. Gainesville, 60-57; d. Tallahassee Leon, 65-51; d. Leesburg, 54-47 (3 OT); Blanche Ely d. American, 77-22; d. Norland, 51-45; d. Pembroke Pines Charter, 59-56; d. St. Petersburg, 67-45.
Glance: The Sharks won a thrilling state semifinal game to reach the third title game in program history. They played for state championships twice before (2022-23), losing to Martin County and Dwyer, respectively. They haven’t lost since a 59-56 setback to Oakleaf on Jan. 20 that dropped them to 13-8. Ben Wilson is in his second championship game as Ponte Vedra’s head coach. Wing Maddox Palmer (13.5 ppg, 5 rpg), G Diego Sanchez-Barrera (12.8 ppg, 4.7 apg, 4.2 rpg) and F Trace Westercamp (11.1 ppg, 6.8 rpg) lead the Sharks. Sanchez-Barrera hit a driving layup to tie the semifinal game in regulation against Leesburg. Ryan Speace knocked down a 3-pointer in the second OT to knot things at 46-all and send it into a third OT. Blanche Ely is one of the top programs in state history. It has played in 11 championship games and won eight of them, including its last seven appearances. It played Creekside in the 2018 Class 8A title game and won in a rout (77-54). Should the Sharks win, it would be just the second title by a St. Johns County program (2002 Nease).
