LAKE WORTH, Fla. - History was going to be made on Saturday afternoon, that much was certain. The unknown was whether top-seed Florida State College at Jacksonville or No. 3 seed Florida Gateway College would author the entry into its record books.
Behind 25 points from Tournament Most Outstanding Player Tarence Guinyard, FSCJ added another chapter to a storybook season, defeating Florida Gateway, 80-70, to claim the FCSAA Division II/NJCAA Region 8 Men's Basketball Championship.
Playing a Division II tournament for the first time in the Association's history, FSCJ won its first FCSAA Championship. Florida Gateway, who won Region 8 titles in 2022 and 2023, was looking for its first FCSAA Championship since 1970.
FSCJ cruised into the final, beating Pasco-Hernando State College, 107-56, in Friday's semifinal round while Florida Gateway rallied for an 85-84 win over tournament host Palm Beach State College.
After splitting four regular season meetings, FSCJ all but led wire-to-wire on Saturday.
Axel Holmquist's bucket in the paint gave Florida Gateway a 2-0 lead, and Antewan Webber answered a Guinyard three with a basket to put the Timberwolves in front 4-3. Another triple by Guinyard gave the BlueWave a 6-4 lead at the 18:14 mark and they never trailed again.
Guinyard's third three of the half capped an 18-6 run that put FSCJ in front, 29-14, with 9:40 left in the first half. The BlueWave led, 44-30, at the half, and Florida Gateway never got closer than eight until the final two minutes of the game.
After a pair of free throws by Tariq Pitts brought Florida Gateway with seven (71-64) with 1:54 remaining, FSCJ promptly hit 9-of-10 free throw attempts to seal the win.
In addition to Guinyard, Jordan Smith (23), Aiden Fletcher (14) and Calvin Brown (10) reached double-figures for FSCJ. Smith and Fletcher joined Guinyard on the All-Tournament Team.
Florida Gateway's dynamic duo of Webber of Amayoa'ah Phillips, scored 15 and 21 points, respectively, after combining for 44 points in the semis. Both made the All-Tournament Team, as well as Palm Beach State's Devontre Chaney, who had 26 points and nine rebounds against the Timberwolves.
FSCJ's John Putyrski was named FCSAA Coach of the Year.
(Article Courtesy of FCSAA)
With the win, FSCJ moves on to the NJCAA Gulf South District Championship Game on Saturday, March 9 in Bay Minette, Ala., where they will play Region 22 Champion Snead State Community College.