561 on top: Dwyer wins FHSAA 6A state title

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.

Dwyer senior point guard Frenelson Atilus (No. 3 jersey) has points on his mind during his team’s Class 6A state title game against Ponte Vedra on Saturday, March 4, 2023 at RP Funding Stadium in Lakeland, Fla.

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.

6:18 1ST: @KyleMcneal3 makes the first points of the night. 2 @DwyerBasketball, 0 @PonteVedraHigh pic.twitter.com/IIIOH57cSW
— New Era Prep (@EraPrep) March 4, 2023

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.

END OF Q1: 12 @DwyerBasketball, 5 @PVSharkBBall. @FHSAA pic.twitter.com/JXCA8vnHOL
— New Era Prep (@EraPrep) March 4, 2023

In the second quarter, Dwyer widened its lead.

Watch for yourself how it happened in one sequence.

4:22 2Q: 21 @DwyerBasketball, 9 @PVSharkBBall. pic.twitter.com/L1cbwWNs78
— New Era Prep (@EraPrep) March 4, 2023

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.

2:00 2Q: 27 @DwyerBasketball, 12 @PVSharkBBall pic.twitter.com/Z4wxF7fBkE
— New Era Prep (@EraPrep) March 4, 2023

Here’s another one.

PLEASE NOTE: Ponte Vedra did not come to just hand the state title to Dwyer.

HALFTIME: 29 @DwyerBasketball, 18 @PVSharkBBall. Ponte Vedra might be down 11pts but this game is not over, stay tuned to see who is the FHSAA 6A State Champion. pic.twitter.com/wBHZbGZ5LI
— New Era Prep (@EraPrep) March 4, 2023

And now for the first half’s action photos.

HALFTIME: @DwyerBasketball is up 29-18 over @PVSharkBBall in the @FHSAA 6A state boys basketball title game 🏆

Check out these great first half images taken by @Photoman0007 🔥🔥🔥🔥

📷: @Photoman0007 @clarasales04 @RPFundingCenter @PBCBBallForum @RossVDG14 @rmfmagazine pic.twitter.com/BL4fkHy52X
— New Era Prep (@EraPrep) March 4, 2023

We have some more.

GROUP #2: @DwyerBasketball – @PVSharkBBall at @FHSAA 6A state title game – First Half

📷: @Photoman0007 🔥🔥🔥@clarasales04 @RPFundingCenter @PBCBBallForum @RossVDG14 @Andy_Villamarzo @Rangeman_Films @FutureDraftStyl @JPGLOBAL12 @rmfmagazine @pressure_athl pic.twitter.com/TbhO1iPV3w
— New Era Prep (@EraPrep) March 4, 2023

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.

4:04 3Q: 32 @DwyerBasketball, 20 @PVSharkBBall. Blake Wilson with the 3. pic.twitter.com/TWZJIwJlp1
— New Era Prep (@EraPrep) March 4, 2023

Here is another one.

2:25 3Q: 35 @DwyerBasketball, 20 @PVSharkBBall. Another 3pts from Blake Wilson. pic.twitter.com/Z4Rc6nWuJY
— New Era Prep (@EraPrep) March 4, 2023

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.

END OF 3Q: 37 @DwyerBasketball, 28 @PVSharkBBall. @FHSAA pic.twitter.com/2QvgNHqJ2G
— New Era Prep (@EraPrep) March 4, 2023

Here are some images taken in the third quarter.

End 3rd: @DwyerBasketball was up 37-28 over @PVSharkBBall in the @FHSAA 6A state boys basketball title game 🏆

Check out these great third quarter images taken by @Photoman0007 🔥

📷: @Photoman0007 @clarasales04 @RPFundingCenter @PBCBBallForum @RossVDG14 @rmfmagazine pic.twitter.com/siZKVZVhrB
— New Era Prep (@EraPrep) March 4, 2023

We have some more to show you.

GROUP #2: @DwyerBasketball – @PVSharkBBall at @FHSAA 6A state title game – Third Quarter

📷: @Photoman0007 🔥🔥🔥@clarasales04 @RPFundingCenter @PBCBBallForum @RossVDG14 @Andy_Villamarzo @Rangeman_Films @FutureDraftStyl @JPGLOBAL12 @rmfmagazine @pressure_athl pic.twitter.com/sqdnBE0Gix
— New Era Prep (@EraPrep) March 4, 2023

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.

6:15 4Q: @DwyerBasketball had a 10 pt lead over @PVSharkBBall. 41-31 Dwyer. pic.twitter.com/fnuguJQ4Oy
— New Era Prep (@EraPrep) March 4, 2023

Here is Brown again as he connects on a key jumper.

3:26 4Q: 43 @DwyerBasketball, 34 @PVSharkBBall. PV has 3 timeouts left, Dwyer has 2. pic.twitter.com/BElLvAboL2
— New Era Prep (@EraPrep) March 4, 2023

As the game began to tighten up with Ponte Vedra cutting into Dwyer’s lead later in the fourth quarter, Brown sent another reminder.

2:15 4Q: 44 @DwyerBasketball, 38 @PVSharkBBall. pic.twitter.com/MKf815TtcU
— New Era Prep (@EraPrep) March 4, 2023

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.