Williston defeats Hilliard to clinch second straight 1A championship
LAKELAND, FLORIDA- History was made last year at Williston High School when the Red Devils defeated Chipley for the Class 1A state championship.
Now that they have a taste of championship gold, the Red Devils completed what they set out to do: Go back to back.
Williston needed a fourth quarter surge in order to get by a feisty Hilliard squad 61-53 on Saturday night at the RP Funding Center.
With the victory, the Red Devils clinched their second state title in program history. Williston head coach Jim Ervin was emotional talking about his team making history winning consecutive championships.
"Just take a look at these kids. They just get it done each and every night," Ervin said right after the game. "It's the best group of young men I've ever coached. And to win back to back, we're building a program here. That was our goal and these kids started it."
If folks didn't know Williston (29-2) was on the come up since last year, they better wake up. The Red Devils only two losses on the season were up against Class 7A state semifinalist Winter Haven and Class 4A region finalist Mater Lakes Academy.
Erase those blemishes and Williston makes the argument as one of the best squads in the state. Early on in the game, it looked like the Red Devils might try and run away with the state championship.
After the first quarter ended with Ervin's bunch leading 12-9, they went on a quick 6-2 spurt to begin the second quarter. Up 18-11, the game could've went downhill for the Red Flashes.
Hilliard (25-3) climbed back into the game behind the play of super talented junior guard CJ Hall, who finished with a game-high 23 points on the night. The 6-foot-4 dynamo guard knocked down a 3-pointer just before halftime to get to within 26-24.
Williston went into intermission ahead 28-24 and the Red Devils went ahead on another run to start the third quarter. Trailing by as many as nine, Hilliard once again grinded its way back into the contest. This time, they'd eventually take the lead.
Entering the final period of play down 41-39, the Red Flashes kept applying pressure to the slim Red Devils margin. Hilliard eventually went ahead 44-43 and after a pair of Hall free throws, led 46-44
That's when the championship pedigree from a year ago came into play. Williston leaned upon the play of seniors Reggie White, Javon Brown and Aramys Rodriguez, which the trio combined to score a total of 43 points.
Hilliard kept it interesting with less than three minutes to go after Warthen scored on a layup, hitting the ensuing free throw to make it 52-49. Williston would go on a 9-4 run the rest of the way, securing the program's second ever title.
A difficult 2023-2024 schedule helped prepare Williston for the postseason grind and eventually, the mountain top once again.
"(Regular season schedule) is what prepared us and that is what I told the kids," Ervin added. "We're on the right path and we're doing the right things."
-- Andy Villamarzo | villamarzo@scorebooklive.com | @sblivefl
