Florida girls basketball playoffs: Sarasota edges Sickles in 7A regional quarterfinals (video)
TAMPA, FLORIDA – In perhaps the most exciting Class 7A girls basketball regional quarterfinal, Wednesday, Sarasota went on the road to Sickles and pulled off a thrilling, 62-61, victory over the host Gryphons.
Sickles surged in front, 61-60, in the final minute on a three-point jumper by Julia Comfort. Sarasota then advanced the ball across mid-court and twice called timeout before settling on a course of action for its go-ahead shot.
FHSAA GIRLS BASKETBALL CLASS 7A PLAYOFF BRACKET
With time winding under 10 seconds, Kennedy McClain fired a pass to Sofi Miller, on the baseline. Miller attacked from the right side of the rim, but her first attempt caromed off to the left. She, however, grabbed the rebound and went right back up for the put-back which proved to be the game winning shot.
Sarasota's Sofi Miller netted the game-winning basket with a put-back of her own miss, in the final seconds of the Sailors' 62-61 FHSAA Class 7A Regional Quarterfinal win over Sickles, as the Florida girls high school basketball state tournaments got underway on Wednesday.
Sickles had time to bring the ball back up court and drive into the paint, but before a shot could be taken, Paisley Binswanger created a steal for the Sailors and dribbled the ball down to the opposite end as time expired.
With the victory, Sarasota advances to a Regional Semifinal match-up at Winter Haven on Monday. Winter Haven advanced with a 64-30 rout of Steinbrenner in its playoff opener.
Click on the bracket link above to see the results of all of Wednesday's Class 7A girls regional quarterfinal contests, as well as the match-ups for the next round. To follow all seven classifications, click on the link below.
