For the 10th-straight season, FAMU DRS’ girls basketball team is headed to the state tournament.
Maybe the Rattlers should just buy a timeshare in Lakeland.
FAMU DRS used a 20-point second quarter and 24-point fourth quarter to pull away at Jacksonville University Christian in a Region 1-2A final on Friday night, securing a 62-50 victory and a trip down south next week.
“It means a lot to say we’ve kept the tradition going,” sixth-year Rattlers coach Ericka Cromartie said. “A lot of these girls haven’t been a part of the championship teams, so this is new for them and something they can say is theirs.”
Sophomore forward Ameari Logan scored a game-high 23 points while being a producer in all four quarters. The Rattlers (16-7) also had a key contribution from sophomore guard Alexandria Reddick (11 points), while eight other FAMU DRS players got in the score book.
Nigeria Harkless scored 18 points and Taijshiah Baldwin had 12 points for top-seeded University Christian (21-5), but the Christians could not full solve the riddle that was FAMU DRS’ defensive pressure.
“We realized that their girl couldn’t guard Ameari, so we just cleared it out and let her drive,” Cromartie said. “She’d penetrate and score or penetrate and kick out. And then we just clogged the middle on their big girl and pressed them the whole time. We went on a big run in the last two minutes before half. None of them wanted to handle the ball, and we just carried that momentum into the second half.”
Class 2A No. 6 FAMU DRS will face No. 5 Keswick Christian (29-1) in a state semifinal next Wednesday at 10 a.m., and the Rattlers are hoping for a better showing than last year’s 48-39 loss to Canterbury.
“I think last year was an eye-opener for many of them that had never been down there and played in a big arena,” Cromartie said. “We’ve been there now, we’re more battle-tested this year, and I know we’ll be ready.”