Marianna falls to Pine Crest in state semifinal

LAKELAND - Marianna�s nerves lasted a little too long Wednesday afternoon. By time the Bulldogs settled down in their first FHSAA Final Four since 1985, they were trailing. From there, it just got worse for Marianna during its 77-57 loss to Pine Crest in the Class 3A semifinals at The Lakeland Center. The Bulldogs (26-4) stayed within five points early, when Marianna coach Travis Blanton said they were adjusting to playing on the state�s biggest stage. Soon afterward, they let the game get away from them. �We played a little tight early,� Blanton said. �They realized they put their pants on one leg at a time, just like us. It�s just much bigger pants.� Before Pine Crest�s leading scorer Brandon Knight got going offensively, the Panthers (27-4) duo of 6-foot-8 Jeff Pelage (15 points) and 6-4 Ed Waite (19) dominated Marianna in the paint and on the glass. Jeremiah Bell matched his season average of five rebounds in the first quarter, and finished with nine. As a team, the Panthers had 15 boards in the first 8 minutes. Waite finished with 10 rebounds and Pelage had eight. They outrebounded the Bulldogs 47-35, and had 23 offensive rebounds, compared to Marianna�s nine. �That�s the difference in the ballgame,� Blanton said. �They got 20 extra shots. The basket goes from being a foot in diameter to six feet. It gets bigger and bigger with every possession they got.� During the first quarter, Marianna struggled to score. It went without a basket for stretches of 2:08 and 2:20 and ultimately trailed 36-22 at halftime. Marianna had trouble adjusting to the deep background in The Lakeland Center, Blanton said. It went 3 of 12 from behind the 3-point line. The Bulldogs were led by T.J. Spencer and Josh Jones� 12 points. Chris Blount had 12 rebounds and eight points. With 5:05 left in the third quarter, Marianna senior Brandon Gibson went down with a minor concussion, Blanton said. After sitting out for 6:43 of game time, Gibson returned to score just one more basket. He finished with nine points and 11 rebounds. Blanton said Pine Crest made it difficult for Gibson to receive the ball in scoring position and double teamed him when he did. In addition to not being able to keep up with Pine Crest�s big men, Marianna couldn�t handle Knight. The South Florida Sun-Sentinel�s player of the year had 17 points, six rebounds and five assists. �He is just as good as any high school player I�ll ever coach against,� Blanton said. Pine Crest went ahead by 20 early in the third quarter and cruised the rest of the way. �It was a great experience,� Blanton said. �I compliment our kids for getting us back down there. It puts our program on the map. They laid their hearts and souls on the line all season long, but it just wasn�t enough. That�s all you can ask for from a coaching standpoint.� PINE CREST (77) Bell 5 0-0 10, Reese 3 0-2 6, Brovender 0 0-0 0, Henry 1 0-0 3, Knight 6 5-6 17, Pierre 0 0-0 0, Waite 8 3-4 19, Thompson 0 0-0 0, Drozdow 0 0-0 0, Westbrook 1 0-0 2, Pelage 7 1-4 15, Perlman 2 1-2 5, Dietz 0 0-0 0. Totals: 33 10-18 77. MARIANNA (57) Blount 4 0-0 8, Gibson 4 1-2 9, Bell 0 1-2 1, Wilson 2 0-0 6, Spencer 5 2-2 12, Sutton 0 0-0 0, Bellamy 0 0-0 0, Boykin 2 0-0 4, Hodge 2 0-0 5, Jones 4 4-6 12, Wooden 0 0-0 0, Pinkins 0 0-0 0. Totals: 23 8-12 57. Pine Crest 17 19 23 18 � 77 Marianna 11 11 23 12 � 57 3-point goals: Pine Crest 1 (Henry), Marianna 3 (Wilson 2, Hodge). Total fouls: Pine Crest 13, Marianna 14. Fouled out: None. Technicals: None.