FHSSA Boys 4A Basketball State Semifinals: Andrew Jackson outlasts The Villages
LAKELAND, FLORIDA – Thursday’s FHSAA Boys 4A state semifinal game between Andrew Jackson (Jacksonville) and The Villages (Orlando) was a tense back-and-forth battle that came down to the final minute before Jackson prevailed, 47-43.
The Tigers now advance to face Gibbs, which won its own triple overtime thriller with North Broward Prep, 58-55, earlier on Thursday. The 4A boys final will take place on Saturday at 3:00 p.m.
Jackson built a 46-41 lead with 37-seconds to play on a pair of free throws by Octavius Lawson and the lead stretched to six when Ronald Durham added another free throw with 28 seconds to go. The Villages pulled back within four on a Ben Koubek field goal, but could get no closer.
TayVion Lawson scored a game-high 15 points and added 9 rebounds to lead Andrew Jackson. Albert Laguerre added 14 points for the Tigers.
Jared Thompson had a 11 points and 5 rebounds for The Villages, while teammate Chris Washington added 9 points and a game-high 12 rebounds.
