Suncoast boys basketball took down Stranahan in a redemption game on Saturday, paving the way for the program's first-ever state berth in 36 years.
RIVIERA BEACH — Suncoast boys basketball's victory on Saturday night might be the biggest for the program in 36 years.
The Chargers came out for the Class 4A regional championship looking to prove their district loss to Stranahan was merely a blip on the radar, and won their first regional title since 1990 in the process.
Led by Kyree McKelton and Jamarey Harris, the top-seeded Chargers edged Stranahan in a 55-50 overtime victory, sinking the Mighty Dragons in nail-biting fashion to reach the state semifinals.
Suncoast leapt to a 16-7 lead across the first 10 minutes of action on the court, but that would be their largest lead of the game. Offense from both sides were stymied for much of the second quarter.
Jamarey Harris and Steffon Davis both shook off hard falls to the court in the second quarter in a physical, contest that began to favor both defenses before halftime.
But when the Chargers' Aarton Horton swiveled around a defender on a fast break and landed a flying layup, the home crowd went wild, filling the gymnasium with racous cheers.
If that moment was a fulcrum for the first half, Strachan quickly made the third quarter story-line about closing the gap, as the Mighty Dragons narrowed the deficit to a single point with the score at 27-26.
A clean triple from Kyree McKelton at the 4:00 mark helped to change that narrative for Suncoast, buying the home team some much-needed breathing room.
There was no time for comfort.
Stranahan showed no interest in backing off, fighting back to a one possession-game.
With 1:32 left in the third quarter, the Mighty Dragons took their first lead of the game, only for Suncoast's Harris to hit a clutch shot from beyond the arc — setting off some tension between the benches during the timeout that ensued.
Two Stranhan players would end up fouling out in the game.
Suncoast missed four straight free throws in the fourth quarter, but superb play by Harris on a steal-and-score and a driving layup by McKelton helped the Chargers regain the lead in the final three minutes.
Suncoast grasped the momentum in overtime and held on tight, with McKelton's three-pointer the difference with 2:05 remaining.
That shot put the Chargers up 51-46, setting the stage for the victory.
Defensive games are becoming the norm between these two squads, as evidenced by the district title game between these two squads in early February — an unexpected 33-22 upset by the Mighty Dragons.
That 32-point total was the lowest Suncoast have scored all season.
Saturday night's win for Suncoast was therefore one of redemption, as well as necessary in securing the program a berth in the Class 4A state semifinals.
The win also showcased the grit needed to come out on top in a close game, a necessary trait in their deep postseason run.
The last time Suncoast reached the semifinals, they won a state championship in 1990.
Alex Peterman is a high school sports reporter for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Suncoast boys hoops beats Stranhan for first regional title in 36 years
Category: General Sports
