Fernandina Beach Leaves Stanton Behind in Second Half

BY FABRIZIO GOWDY | JAN. 28, 2021 | SPORTS

A 12-0 third quarter run proved decisive as the Stanton College Prep varsity boys basketball team was defeated by the Fernandina Beach High School Pirates 70-43 at home Thursday.

It was just the sixth meeting all-time between the two schools, and the first since January 2015. The Blue Devils had beaten the Pirates just one time in those previous five matchups.

Fernandina took the lead in the first half as it scored 21 points, putting the Pirates well ahead of pace to hit their 56.3 points per game average coming in. However, the Pirates couldn't shake the Blue Devils, whose 15 first quarter points also put them ahead of pace of their 48.7 average points per game. Senior forward Jaylen Jackson ended the quarter with an impressive buzzer beater, catching a pass in the right corner, spinning around, and hitting a long two as time expired.

The second quarter saw the Pirates again outscore the Blue Devils by six, as Fernandina grew their lead to 12. Stanton seniors Ro Vemuri and Rohith Kilambi each had an and-one basket, but they were countered by Fernandina's own senior duo of Jake Jackson and Ryan Anderson. Jackson and Anderson, the Pirates' two leading scorers on the season, combined for five threes and 22 points; Fernandina led 39-27 at the half.

Stanton began the second half on a hot streak, scoring seven unanswered to open the third and forcing a Fernandina timeout in under two minutes. However, the game turned on a pair of Stanton miscues. A Jake Anderson steal turned fast break layup and a Stanton five-second violation marked a clear momentum shift. Just when it seemed as if the Blue Devils were going to erase their entire halftime deficit, Fernandina answered Stanton's seven unanswered points with a 12-0 run.

Much like Monday's game against Englewood, Stanton entered the fourth trailing double digits. However, unlike Monday's game, the Blue Devils were unable to rally and make the game competitive. Stanton had its worst quarter offensively, scoring just seven points. Fernandina's bench got playing time and put up 19 fourth quarter points.

The Blue Devils (3-12) play Menendez High School at home Feb. 3 in their home finale. After losing five of their last six,  the Pirates (10-11) can now get back to .500 when they play Hilliard High School at home tomorrow.