Lake Worth’s Calvin Simmons and Marvin Golf combined for 47 points as the Trojans ended Osceola’s basketball season with a 75-57 win in the Class 7A, Region 3 Championship Game on Friday night at Kowboys Gym.
The contest was a lot closer than the final score indicated, as Osceola actually held a 55-53 lead after three quarters. But in a nightmarish fourth stanza, the Trojans went on a 20-0 run to start the period and pull away for the 18-point win. Osceola would only score two points in the quarter, with those coming on a Victor Guzman jumper with 1:24 remaining.
“Sometimes things like this happen. We sort of had them in the game we wanted, but in the fourth period we rimmed out a couple of three-pointers, they followed them with a couple of quick buckets and we never could get the momentum back,” Osceola Coach Steve Mason said. “But forget the fourth period for a second. Lake Worth really won this game in the first three periods when we allowed way too many second-chance points.”
Mason added that both Simmons and Golf were the big keys. “We saw on video that he (Simmons) could take over a game at point guard and that’s exactly what he did in the second half,” Mason said. “I would also say that we have faced taller teams almost all season but this is the first time it really seemed to bother us and that surprised me a little. We had no answers for Golf.”
Simmons would score 14 points and dish out six assists after intermission. Golf led all scorers with 27 points but he also dominated on both ends with 14 rebounds and five blocked shots.
Still, Osceola was in the game most of the way.
Lake Worth would get eight points each from Golf and Anthony Cody to lead 24-21 after one period, but Sean Combs would hit four second-quarter field goal attempts as Osceola tied the game at half – 36-36.
The Kowboys actually took a six-point lead midway through the third quarter as a Cory Vega three-pointer made it 44-38 at the 3:35 mark. But Simmons and Jerry Ortiz each hit three-pointers as the Trojans finished the quarter on a 15-9 to cut the lead to two.
With Simmons running the offensive end of the floor in the final period, Golf was coming up big on the defensive end with five rebounds and three blocks. The two combined for 13 of Lake Worth’s 22 points in the quarter.
Osceola was led by Sean Combs 17 points. Chris Combs and Ryan Rivera had 11.
“I am extremely proud of how hard this team played tonight and all season long,” Mason added. “We finished with a 20 win season, an OBC title, a district championship, and two regional wins. I told our players those accomplishments were a lot to be proud of.”
Osceola graduates six seniors off this year’s team but will return leading scorer Sean Combs and four others that made significant contributions this year. They will also welcome five freshmen starters from this year’s Junior Varsity team that recorded a perfect 19-0 record.
