By Dave Brousseau - BCAA Writer
LAKELAND – Perhaps it was the most significant 16.2 seconds in Fort Lauderdale Stranahan High boys’ basketball history.
Down by six, a miraculous series of events change the outcome in the Class 4A state championship at the RP Funding Center on Thursday.
Isaiah Brown, the Dragon’s 6-9 junior center, tipped ball at the rim scored the winning points with four seconds left for a 63-62 victory over St. Petersburg Gibbs.
On the inbounds Gibbs desperation attempt fell short, as the Dragons celebration went into high-octane mode.
The Stranahan (25-7) victory is the school’s fourth state championship, joining three other BCAA boys’ basketball teams with titles, joining Blanche Ely, Dillard and Fort Lauderdale High.
“It feels good to sit at the big table and eat a steak sometimes,” said Stranahan coach Edward Schuler said. “We ate catfish for a long time, but since 2019, we’ve now got four…Wow, I get emotional just thinking about it. We always teach them there’s always time on the clock and to never give up.”
The improbable comeback went into high gear with 16.2 seconds left to determine Stranahan’s fate.
Sophomore guard Damari Foster kick-started the Dragons when connected on a three-pointer with 16.2 seconds left, cutting the deficit to 62-59. After a Stranahan timeout.
Gibbs turned the ball to Stranahan on the inbound pass, giving the comeback addition life.
Foster was fouled while shooting a three with 11.8 seconds left, giving him three free throw attempts. He made the first two of three attempts.
Junior Christian Yeargin, who led Stranahan with 21 points, came up with the rebound and as he falling out of bounds tossed it back to Brown, who stood underneath the basket.
He positioned himself for the winning shot, dropping the ball right through the hoop.
“I really didn’t know how much time we had left so I just went up and put it in and the rest is history,” Brown said. “Biggest shot of my life.”
“The lights were getting real dark, but we had to keep moving and turn them back on,” added Brown. “We did it.”
Brown’s score won it, but Stranahan didn’t get there without Foster’s heroics, which capped an 18-point, five-assist game.
Without Foster’s late game heroics, the Stranahan rally likely would have fallen short.
“All season we knew we might be in a situation like that, and we were ready,” Foster said. “I wasn’t that nervous at the foul because my coach just said to lock in, and I did. This feels amazing.”
David Nealy added 11 points for the Dragons. Jacob Daniels led Gibbs (27-5) with a team-high of 19 points.
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