LAKELAND – While Dwyer’s quest to win the Class 7A state title in boys basketball fell a little short, it was a season to remember in more ways than one.
Dwyer (14-4 final record) played two teams this past weekend in the FHSAA State Four: Western (58-54 comeback win in the 7A state semifinals on Friday, March 5) and Dr. Phillips (54-46 loss in the 7A state title game on Saturday, March 6).
In the final two games on Friday afternoon and Saturday night at Lakeland’s RP Funding Center, Panthers senior Jonathan Paul combined for 13 points to make a positive impact on his team. The 6-foot-5 forward touched on how it all went down for him.
“My state final was pretty good,” Paul said. “It was something I needed heading into the next level. Throughout the whole season, I wasn’t confident to try new things. But when I got to the State Final Four, I really had to do things I was not used to doing in the game.”
Like what?
“Usually I wouldn’t go to my right, shoot a mid range, or put the ball on the floor and be a playmaker,” Paul said. “I did those things up there.”
The top two scorers for Dwyer in the State Final Four were sophomore guard Kyle McNeal (12 points against Western; team-high 14 points against Dr. Phillips; 26 total points) and senior guard Rodrick Johnson (four points against Western; 12 points against Dr. Phillips; 16 total points).
Another notable: Panthers junior guard scored 10 points in the State Final Four against Western. But he did not play in Saturday night’s title game due to an injury he suffered late in the comeback win over Western.
“It was hard to watch and not be out there for my team,” Scott said.
Paul had more to say about the State Final Four experience.
“The state title game was a hard fought game, even with us not having Xavier,” Paul said. “During the half we were not playing our best basketball, but we were still in the game. We came out in the second half with the mindset of leaving everything we had on the court, but we came up short of the state title. I’m just proud of our guys because we didn’t give up.”
Dwyer principal Corey Brooks shared his thoughts on how the boys basketball team’s season ended.
“Their physicality and toughness made their defensive game second to none,” Brooks said. “Those attributes carried them to the state finals. They wore teams down. No matter how many points were scored, they were always in the game because of their grit.”
The Panthers overcame a two-to-three-week long break due to COVID-19 affecting the program. It occurred in the middle of the regular season.
Despite that challenge, it never broke the group. It made them stronger as a unit.
“They had great team chemistry,” Brooks said. “Having a late football season allowed many players to get quality playing time. Also many of our players have been teammates since their recreational days. The continuity really helped.”
Brooks ended it with a declaration for the 2021-2022 boys basketball season at Dwyer.
“We are young,” Brooks said. “We should be back next year.”
PHOTO CREDITS: Future Draft Style and Keith Forde
