Third time the charm for West Florida Tech against Dolphins
BY JASON THOMPSON Gulf Breeze News jason@gulfbreezenews.com

Photo courtesy of Steve Violette Dustin Clements (left) and Catholic's Kyle Sarra battle for position Friday in Gulf Breeze.

Two of Gulf Breeze's six wins this season have come against West Florida Tech.

They wouldn't get a third, as the Jaguars, aided by a questionable technical foul against GBHS coach David McGreal, got by the Dolphins 60-55 in the opening round of the District 1-4A Tournament Monday in Gulf Breeze.

With the game still in doubt (West Florida Tech led by three with 1:37 left in the game), Matt Patrick was called for his fifth foul. McGreal wanted a double dribble call against the Jaguars before the foul was called and began waving his arms up and down, the signal for the double dribble.

For that, he was assessed a technical foul.

From there, the Jags made one of two for the personal, then the technical, to go up five. The foul shots were part of a 11-1 run that started after a Patrick free throw with 2:47 left tied the game at 47.

Gulf Breeze came storming out of the box, shooting 58 percent from the field in the opening quarter to lead by eight (18-10).

The reserves, who scored more than the starters (30-25), scored 11 of the 18 in that opening quarter. Stuart Franklin scored four in that run, while Marcus Smith scored five of his team-high nine points in that run.

Patrick, who had seven points, scored off a pass from Brandon Creager that made it 29-20 Dolphins. From there, the Jaguars (10-17) went on a 7-0 run to get to within two.

Jeff White scored off an offensive rebound to make it 31-27 at the half.

One of West Florida Tech's five three-pointers gave the Jags its first lead at 34-33 with 5:55 left in the third quarter. West Florida Tech held that lead for the remainder of the quarter, which ended with them up four (41-37).

Alec Cann and Bryan Shreve both had eight points, while Franklin, Dane Baker, White and Dustin Clements had four each. Creager had three points, while David Hibberts and Derek Orban had two each.

Hibberts had six rebounds, while Cann, Shreve, Creager and Franklin had five each. Creager also had three assists.

Gulf Breeze finished the season at 6-19.

Catholic 45, Dolphins 42

Gulf Breeze led by two at the half before the Crusaders outscored the Dolphins by four in the second half Friday to win the regular season finale between the two schools.

Patrick had 12 points and five rebounds for the Dolphins, while Shreve had eight points and a pair of blocked shots.

Franklin had seven points, while Blake Rankin celebrated Senior Night with a pair of threepointers. Creager, the team's only other senior, had two points, three steals and five assists.

Cann had five points and five rebounds, while Hibberts had two points, five rebounds and four steals.

Catholic JV 61,

Dolphin JV 48

Kyle Schnackenberg scored 17 points for the Dolphins, who were outscored 39-24 in the second half.

Joey Bodovetz had 13 points, while Bo Peardon had 10 for Gulf Breeze.