Live from Lakeland Lakewood in state final

Tipoff of Lakewood's Class 5A state final game against Fort Lauderdale Dillard is moments away. We'll keep you updated throughout the game.

Comments

[Bob Putnam]

Score tied 2-2 with 6:26 left in first. Mike Morrison, though, just picked up his first foul.

[Bob Putnam]

Lakewood is up 8-6 with 4:14 left in first. The Spratans are able to score inside. But one big problem, Morrison just picked up foul No. 2.

[Bob Putnam]

Televsion timeout. Lakewood still ahead 9-7 and playing with a smaller lineup with Morrison taking a breather.

[Bob Putnam]

Lakewood still is hanging on. Reggie Reed just hit a 3-pointer to make it 12-11.

[KEITH NIEBUHR]

Putnam is the man, but I'm here to offer my typically brilliant analysis. By the way, former NFL receiver Chris Carter, who lives not far from Dillard, is in the stands. Carter is an assistant football coach at Ft. Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquainas.

[ryan callahan]

Thank you so much Mr Putnam. GO SPARTANS!!!

[KEITH NIEBUHR]

Dillard's height advantage is causing Lakewood serious problems. Several shots have been blocked. Many others have been altered. Lakewood isn't going strong to the basket. If it did, it might get a few fouls. But its players are getting the ball down lown, then getting a bit tentative on their shots.

[Bob Putnam]

Dillard up 15-12 at the start of the second. Lakewood shot just 27 percent in the first compared to 45 for Dillard. But rhe defense is coming through. Dillard has four turnovers; Lakewood one.

[Bob Putnam]

Lakewood has cut it to 21-20 after Reed made both free throws. Lakewood's Sean Johnson now has three fouls but so does Dillard's big man, Nigel Spikes.

[Jay R.]

Is this game being televised? If so what channel?

[ryan callahan]

nope, unfortunately it isnt. i was hoping the last 2 games would be on catch 47, but all they want to show was our domination over the pinellas park patriots.

[Bob Putnam]

Score now 23-all. Reed just completed three-point with basket and free throw.

[Bob Putnam]

Game will be on tape delay March 16 on Sun Sports.

[josh]

the lakewood spartans are going to win they have the best bench in florida right now..they dont need there starters their bench can win the game for them..lakewood 76 dillard 58

[J.J.]

Is this on the radio?

[Bob Putnam]

Score is 26-all at the half. Shamon Cox nailed a 3-pointer with seconds left.

[ryan callahan]

i dont think it will be quite that high scoring. thank you for the tv update mr. putnam.

[jimmy]

josh are u serious who is on lakewood bench i never seen their bench players play but i did hear there coach had some secret weapons

[ryan callahan]

cool. i know this will be the hardest game of the season for us, because dillard is nationaly ranked. but i think we can take them if we can get past and score on their big guys. easier said than done though.

[ryan callahan]

our best player off the bench is probably shamon cox. he comes up with big points when we need them most. and also off the bench are people like ladarius barnes and irez gray i also believe comes off of the bench.

[Chris]

Lakewood owns

[ryan callahan]

True dat. I like our new "slogan"

HOOD TUFF & BATTLE TESTED.

[jimmy]

o yeah i heard about that barnes kid he can ball..has all of lakewood players got in the game yet

[ryan callahan]

nah, coach wright usually doesnt empty the bench in the first half unless we already have a monster lead.

has M. Jackson from lakewood got in yet

[ryan callahan]

probably not, hes only made 21 points all year, and only 8 boards and 1 assist all year. hes one of the 3rd stringers i think.

[Bob Putnam]

28-28 at the start of the third quarter. Lakewoood was able to hang with Dillard without using Morrison much of the first half. That should bode well.

[jacob]

i dont know if lakewood has the best bench in fl he doesnt play at least four guys a game unless their murdering the otha team that must mean they still havent developed yet

[Bob Putnam]

OOps, Morrison just called for his third foul. Dillard now up 30-28.

[ryan callahan]

hopefully morrison can stay out of foul trouble through the end of the game. we will need him for the enitre game.

[ryan callahan]

o no. we need morrison bad. hoepfully he can avoid his 4th.

[Bob Putnam]

And Sean Johnson just picked up his fourth. That hurts because he's playing great defense. Dillard ahead 32-30.

[ryan callahan]

AHH! this isnt good.

[Bob Putnam]

Shaom Cox has found his touch from the outside. He just a 3-pointer to make it 33-32 Lakewood.

[ryan callahan]

Shamon is AWESOME!! Most clutch perimeter shooter in Pinellas county.

[ryan callahan]

off of the bench that is.

GO LAKEWOOD MAKE PINELLAS PROUD

[Bob Putnam]

Lakewood in control right now. Morrison hit a layup and Cox hit another 3-pointer. Now 38-32 Spartans.

[ryan callahan]

LAKEWOOD!!!!!!! LETS SEND OFF MORRISON AND REED OFF IN STYLE!!!!!

[Bob Putnam]

Who said Lakewood can't shoot. Reed on a 3-pointer to make it 41-36.

[ryan callahan]

Reed has had hot hands in the playoffs, and has become a high-scoring and very high effectvie point guard.

[Bob Putnam]

End of the third quarter. Lakewood up 43-38. The Spartans not intimidated by Dillard's at all. In fact, Dillard is having a little trouble scoring inside.

[jermaine]

how much time left

[ryan callahan]

i believe the quarters are 8 minutes. GO SPARTANS!!!!

[jermaine]

wat up ryan i think i got u first period in cittum i think

dose mike still only have 3 fouls

[LARGO FAN]

KEEP IT UP LAKEWOOD

[Bob Putnam]

Lakewood ahead 45-40. The Spartans had a chance to break it open but were called for goaltending.

[ryan callahan]

yeah wat up jermaine. i got chittum 1st period.

[Bob Putnam]

Morrison comes back in and picks up fourth foul. Dillard makes both free throws to cut it to 45-42.

[cat]

GO BLACK AND GOLD!!!!!!!
MAKE US PROUD **** SPARTANS***

[ryan callahan]

come on mike. tough game for him tonite. hopefully our lockdown defense and perimeter shooting can keep us on top and win us the state title.

[wooden otb]

lakewoods a great 4th quarter team,wright will bring the trophy.

[ryan callahan]

lets hope so. it would be very dissapointing to go to state 2 straight years and come home empty-handed.

[PPARK SHOULD BE PLAYING !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!]

PINELLAS PARK

[ryan callahan]

PINELLAS PARK SUCKS!!!

BLACK AND GOLD!!!

[POSITIVE VIBES ***********************************]

THNK POSITIVE

[cat]

SOME SPARTANS NEEDS TO PICK IT UP!!!!
YOU HAVE TO WANT IT!!!!!
NOW GO GET IT!!!!!

p.park is garbag

[Bob Putnam]

Lakewood 47-44 with 3:59 remaining. But the Spartans have turned it over on last two poseessions.

[ryan callahan]

LETS GO SPARTANS!!!!!!!!!

[jimmy]

pinellas park ur not playin gosh get out of here lamo

[wooden otb]

park is playing--at pinebrook--you know,take a left at the trailor park--youll see most of parks team waiting for winners.

[PPARK EARNS REPUTATION YET ONCE AGAIN]

LEAVE IT TO PPARK TO TRY AND TAKE THIS FROM LAKEWOOD. THEY SHOULD BE CHEERING FOR THEM SAME COUNTY. IF YOU CAN'T WIN ATLEAST CHEER FOR TEAM IN COUNTY. BAD SPORTS

keep da dynasty alive

[ryan callahan]

i no. how much do we need to beat u by to see that we are the better team.

[cat]

" PREPARE FOR VICTORY!!!-GO SPARTANS"

[Bob Putnam]

Dillard just hit a 3-pointer and Morrison just fouled out. Game tied 47-all with 3:03 left.

[Eddie Allen]

P-Park is irrelevant. No need to discuss them because they're not in competition anymore. The focus is on Lakewood and that state title. Go Wood!!! Dynasty baby!

OH MY GOD

[ryan callahan]

O MY GOD!!! I WISH THE GAME WAS ON TV!!! Hopefully our defense will come through and we get some clutch shots from reed, lane, and cox.

amen

[Fan]

keep the scores coming

[ryan callahan]

Come on guys, i know they cant hear us, but chat it up.

BLACK AND GOLD!!!!! GO LAKEWOOD!!!

Come on Lakewood

pull it off

[wooden otb]

lakewood should go to cox down the stretch

lakewood

come on lakewood

is that big ugly jermaine in here or ear in here

[ryan callahan]

why not cox. he has been clutch lately. remember that game he hit the 3 with like 4 seconds left. if it wasnt for that we might not even be here.

LETS GO LAKEWOOD

[wooden otb]

dillard hasn't played many close games---advantage lakewood.

[cat]

PUTNAM WHATS THE SCORE BUD !!!!!

UPDATE?

[Bob Putnam]

Dillard is starting to dominate. They're now up 53-47 with 1:56 remaining.

LAKEWOOD LAKEWOOD LAKEWOOD LAKEWOOD

[ryan callahan]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. COME ON LAKEWOOD!

[Times editor]

53-47 Dillard

[Bob Putnam]

Lakewood timeout. Dillard on a 11-0 run.

OH NO COME ON LAKEWOOD
DON'T GIVE UP NOW

[ryan callahan]

man, if the 11-0 run makes us lose this will be a sad day for spartan fans.

[LARGO FAN]

COME ON LAKEWOOD BRING THE TROPHY TO PINELLAS COUNTY

[cat]

HELP US

UPDATE?

Nah... Lakewood's not gonna win :(

[ryan callahan]

COME ON GUYS GOOD VIVES!!! THINK GAME WINNING SHOT BY SHAMON COX!!!

[wooden otb]

is dillard a good free throw percentage team ?....hope not

GOOD VIBES********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

LONGEST 3 MINUTESSSSSSSSSSSSSS

[Bob Putnam]

57-51 Dillard with 56 seconds left. Gonna be tough for Lakewood to come back.

[wooden otb]

scoring update---please tell us it's tied

3rd pters! Need 3's

[Eddie Allen]

No matter what happens it does not diminish how great of a basketball dynasty Lakewood is. How many team in the state can boast such impressive credentials and accomplishments. This is one of the greatest high school basketball dynasty in Florida high school history. KUDOS to Dan Wright and the Lakewood family. There will be many more good times to come.

[ryan callahan]

COME ON LAKEWOOD, U CAN DO IT!!!

OH NOT COME ON GUYS YOU CAN DO IT
DON'E GIVE UP
STICK IT OUT STAY STRONG

[Bob Putnam]

It's pretty much over. Dillard up 59-51 with 46 seconds left and Sean Johnson just fouled out.

Everybody needs to pray right now!!!

http://www.fhsaa.org/livestats/BB_0_0_02292008_M_1.html

[Bob Putnam]

Dillard 60-55 with 15 seconds left. Reed just fouled out.

They're comin back but no time left

61-55 14 SECS

61-55 3 LEFT

[Bob Putnam]

Game over. Dillard wins 61-55. Lakewood gave them a scare, thoough. A lot of people thought it would be a blowout.

66-51 FINAL

[Falcon]

60-55 15 seconds Dillard is 28 of 46 from the free throw line, wood is 5 of 9. final 61-56 great effort, couldn't get through the 4th.

GREAT JOB LAKEWOOD PINELLAS COUNTY IS PROUD HOLD YOUR HEADS UP HIGH AND STAY STRONG

[ryan callahan]

man i really thought we would have won this game. that 11-0 run really killed us. hopefully we can come back next year. u can say all u want about the starters not returning, but remember, we lost 3 starters last year and we still made it. keep reppin your black and gold.

[wooden otb]

wow--lakewood attempted 9 free throws compared to dillard 46....thats a huge difference..was dillard just to big inside or did lakewood get the short end on the calls tonight.

[cat]

GIVE THE WOOD SOME DAP!!!!!

[yum]

who won??

[anton]

sorry all u lakewood losers that couldn't rise to the occasion. u need viagra, p park forever u suckas

[Kim]

^^^^Above poster is the reason why short buses are still needed.

Back to the topic, I am very proud of Lakewood! This team has been underdogs throughout the entire playoff series, and they have perservered all the way to the finals. Even though, we came up just a little short, these boys played a tough, nationally ranked team better than any team in the state this year.

To the Spartans Basketball Team, I am( and Pinellas County) salute you for another outstanding season!

So, the foul situation was 31 fouls on Lakewood and 14 on Dillard. No TC Carter on the court for that game, huh? That is funny! Hey, were any of the Lakewood players emotional or crying after the game? I sure hope not because we all know how that is not allowed by kids after they lose. I mean last week we all know how one certain Pinellas Park player was tore up for showing emotion, so those "tough", "battle tested" Spartans better not have shown any emotion. That would just not be fitting for such "warriors" from Da Wood. So, there better not have been any of that! I don't know if Mikey was crying, but I am sure he was whining and making faces when he had to sit down with that 5th foul. Oh well! NO STATE TITLE FOR DA WOOD, boo whoo!

we still beat ppark or any other pc team u want to name. how about, Lakewood being the olny team from pc to make it to state! and how many years thats been. by the way, GREAT JOB LAKEWOOD, WE'RE(laKEWOOD FANS)PROUD OF UR ACCOMPLISHMENTS!!!!!!

[PARS FAULT]

The PAR organization has really hurt you again Lakewood.
Instead of breezing through the county with favorable calls, you finally had real refs to call all the pushing, shoving, holding and over the back.
You have had TC and his cronies fix your mistakes and it hurt you in the finals.
Good job

LARGO!!!!!!!!!!!! LARGO!!!!!!!!!!!!! BEN PATRICK!!!!!!!!!!! LARGO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! KOLA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LARGO!!!!!!!!!!!

LAKEWOOD HOLD YOUR HEADS HIGH GREAT JOB BETTER THAN ANY OTHER TEAM IN THE COUNTY DID. LARGO FACED THE SAME BS IN FOOTBALL INSTEAD OF GOING FOR THE ONLY PINELLAS TEAM THEY HAVE TO WHINE ABOUT THEIR LOOSES AND MAKE EXCUSES FOR THEMSELVES. GREAT LESSON TO TEACH KIDS GUYS.

[Vinnie]

Pinellas county had 1, just 1 team left to bring home a State title. Lakewood was the flag bearer yet again, and you people are on this blog laughing at their pain and mocking them
Where is YOUR team you no-account clown?
Unless YOU were on the court, shut up or give them a pat on the back for a hearty effort.
They didn't get blown out, and it's sure as sin YOUR team wasn't there.

Nice run Lakewood. We'll see you next season.
State runner-up isn't bad, just doesn't have the ring you wanted.

[Vinnie]

Pinellas county had 1, just 1 team left to bring home a State title. Lakewood was the flag bearer yet again, and you people are on this blog laughing at their pain and mocking them
Where is YOUR team you no-account clown?
Unless YOU were on the court, shut up or give them a pat on the back for a hearty effort.
They didn't get blown out, and it's sure as sin YOUR team wasn't there.

Nice run Lakewood. We'll see you next season.
State runner-up isn't bad, just doesn't have the ring you wanted.

[ETC]

I am no Lakewood fan just a fan of Pinellas county sports in all and I have a few things to say:

Lakewood was far and away the best team in Pinellas county. PPark or Clearwater would have been dominated by Dillard and found a very very tough game vs. Brandon.

Dillard is a Nationally ranked team and Lakewood basically had there number. If Mike Morrison (Mike made dumb fouls) would not have been in foul trouble the whole game I see Lakewood winning this one by 6.

Oh and it had nothing to do with the Refs they made good calls they made bad calls its part of the game no one is perfect.

Lakewood is still the flag bearer in Pinellas County when it comes to basketball.

I give PPark much credit and they had a great season but the Ppark posters really should remember one thing

60-34

After that we should not be hearing from you for another year.

[Rookie Referee]

Dear Posted by: PARS FAULT | March 01, 2008 at 09:10 AM,

No matter what happens, you continue to blame TC and PAR for everything. Did you ever Referee Basketball in PAR? Were you upset you did not get the games you wanted? Again, PAR Meeting March 3rd at: Homewood Suites Hotel 2233 Ulmerton Rd 7:00 pm

See you there?

[To ref]

Lakewood lost because they are used to fouling all game long as PAR refs only call half of them. And believe it or not yes Lakewood players travel, just not in Pinellas County.
Great job PAR and TC, by "helping" out with calls you actually cost them the title.
TC is the worst ref in florida.
every coach and most members of PAR cant stand him.
If yu get rid of TC many people would join your corrupt organization.

[ETC]

Actually Lakewood may have only been called for 1 travel the whole game while Dillard was called for several.

[informed fan]

PAR did Lakewood no favors. All year long they got pushed through, Never being called for fouls, never handling close games.

Without PAR Lakewood struggled. Sure they have great athletes, and thats how they beat Brandon. But when they needed good coaching, and without PAR, they lose.

Imagine what could be.

[informed fan]

PAR did Lakewood no favors. All year long they got pushed through, Never being called for fouls, never handling close games.

Without PAR Lakewood struggled. Sure they have great athletes, and thats how they beat Brandon. But when they needed good coaching, and without PAR, they lose.

Imagine what could be.

funny 10:15 not what you were saying when largo got caught was it?