Dr. Phillips 3-peats at FHSAA Class 7A girls basketball championships
LAKELAND – The three-peaters were at it again.
Dr. Phillips won its seventh girls basketball state championship on Saturday, taking down crosstown rival Colonial, 53-46, in the FHSAA Class 7A state championship game at the RP Funding Center.
“It is satisfying because of all the hard work we put in," Dr. Phillips head coach Anthony Jones said. “It came to fruition right now. All the things we went through, I am just double proud of my players."
Orlando Dr. Phillips players celebrate after three-peating as the FHSAA Class 7A state champions on Saturday at The RP Funding Center.
Bill Kemp
Under Jones, Dr. Phillips won state titles in 2011 (6A), 2012 (8A), 2013 (8A), 2022 (7A) and 2023 (7A). The program won its first state championship in 1992 (4A) under former coach Ron Fonnett.
The title marked the second time Dr. Phillips three-peated as girls basketball state champions, with all six wins coming under Jones. This championship also capped off a 20-game winning streak to end the season.
Historically, the clash also marked the first time two city of Orlando schools played for the girls basketball state championship.
“Cindy Richardson is a great coach at Colonial, and I knew we had two of the top teams in Central Florida and I just had a feeling we were going to see each other in the state final game. We gave Central Florida exactly what they wanted to see."
Colonial guard Jasmynne Gibson pulls up with a shot in the lane against Dr. Phillips during the FHSAA Class 7A girls basketball state championship game at The RP Funding Center Lakeland.
Bill Kemp
Dr. Phillips was led by Georgia signee Trinity Turner, who scored 16 points and dished out five assists while teammate Leah Bullard scored 15 and snatched six rebounds.
“It is just a blessing," Turner said. "After the first one, I knew we could get two more with the team we had."
Midway through the third quarter, Dr. Phillips began milking the clock on offense with solid ball movement and making several passes before looking to shoot. But taking the air out of the ball also deflated its momentum, and with 1:06 left in the game, Colonial had miraculously dwindled the Dr. Phillips' lead down to three points, 49-46.
“We fought back but we got into foul trouble,” said Richardson, who is in her 21st season with the program. “They didn’t give up, but when you have three girls with four fouls, what can you do?”
Colonial was led by Jasmynne Gibson with 13 points and Carmen Richardson with 11.
Dr. Phillips built a commanding 34-15 halftime lead, while Colonial’s offense struggled, mustering a mere two points in the second quarter.
Turner, who was the Florida player of the year by MaxPreps and finished runner-up in the 2023 Florida Dairy Farmers Miss Basketball voting, led all scorers at the half with 12 points while Bullard had 11.
Dr. Phillips wasted no time getting out in front – getting scoring from six different players – while jumping out to a 21-13 first-quarter lead.
Colonial guard Jasmynne Gibson drives to the basket against Dr. Phillips during the FHSAA Class 7A girls basketball state championship game at The RP Funding Center Lakeland.
Bill Kemp
Colonial, which had reached the final four the past two seasons, advanced after downing Doral Academy, 55-49, in the semifinals, and Dr. Phillips advanced after beating Winter Haven, 65-62.
