LAKELAND – Nothing was going to stop Dwyer from winning the Class 6A state title tonight (March 4).
In what has been a season for the ages, the Panthers (29-1 final record) was focused on its mission of being a cohesive unit from beginning to end.
Photo credits: Chuck Bethel
They did it with style and grace. They did it with power and persistence.
They never gave up.
This special collective was almost always about the team. This group of state champions played their hearts out for each other and legendary head coach Fred Ross, who has now won four FHSAA state titles in his illustrious coaching career.
They came out on top together.
In tonight’s 6A state title game against the Ponte Vedra Sharks (23-7 final record), senior standout Kyle McNeal made the first bucket count on a jumper with 6:18 left in the first quarter.
From that point on, the No. 1 overall seed did not let the No. 3 overall seed even think a lead would be possible. There was hardly any slippage on this special night at RP Funding Center.
The first quarter ended with Dwyer being up 12-5 over Ponte Vedra.
In the second quarter, Dwyer widened its lead.
Watch for yourself how it happened in one sequence.
By halftime, Dwyer took a 29-18 lead over Ponte Vedra.
We will show you two video plays first, followed by a collage of images from the first half.
Here’s another one.
PLEASE NOTE: Ponte Vedra did not come to just hand the state title to Dwyer.
And now for the first half’s action photos.
We have some more.
How did the second half go?
When the game got close to the midpoint of the third quarter, it was time for Dwyer to show the state why it is a true second half team.
Here is a clip for evidence of that claim.
Here is another one.
But just when it appears that Dwyer had the state title wrapped up, there was a reminder by Ponte Vedra that this final game was not over by any means.
Here are some images taken in the third quarter.
We have some more to show you.
How did the fourth and final quarter of the 2022-2023 season go for Dwyer?
Senior leader Mason Brown showed Ponte Vedra a thing or two in the below clip.
Here is Brown again as he connects on a key jumper.
As the game began to tighten up with Ponte Vedra cutting into Dwyer’s lead later in the fourth quarter, Brown sent another reminder.
With 1:23 left in this one, Dwyer senior point guard Frenelson Atilus used his strength, speed, and athleticism to get a layup in for his team’s 46-38 lead that would hold at the 1:00 mark.
Watch how Dwyer made its emphatic statement to officially win the Class 6A state title at the final buzzer.
Congratulations to Dwyer on a truly amazing season.
PHOTO CREDITS: Chuck Bethel
VIDEO CREDITS: Clara Sales
