Lakewood Ranch High boys basketball ends season in quarterfinals

TAMPA — It takes a distinct type of person to be a Mustang boys basketball player.

From the moment he steps onto the court, he must be willing to put the team ahead of himself. He has to possess both physical and mental toughness. And, most importantly, he has to have the drive and determination to never give up — even when the odds are stacked up against him.

On Sept. 12, 10 players accepted the challenge and demand that comes along with being a Mustang basketball player.

A few games into the season, few outside of the Lakewood Ranch locker room expected the Mustangs to be competing for a district championship, let alone playing in the regional tournament.

But the players bought into first-year head coach Jeremy Schiller’s system and the standards set out for them; and by season’s end, those 10 players had more than lived up to expectations — finishing as the district runner-up and earning a spot in the regional tournament.

And as they walked off the court following their 57-32 loss to Tampa Sickles in the Class 6A-Region 3 quarterfinals Feb. 20, the players kept their heads up, knowing they had left everything they had out on the court — it just wasn’t their night.

“We demand a lot out of them on the court and off the court with their academics, being involved and being a positive roll model in the halls,” Schiller said. “We set a standard very early on of how we’re going to do things; and as I tell these guys, these guys were tough enough to do it.

“Overall, our kids played as hard as they possibly could — Sickles was just better,” he said. “They have nothing to hang their heads about. We’re very fortunate to be here, but those kids have earned it.”

After staying with Sickles (22-6) for much of the first quarter, the Mustangs (9-20) watched the Gryphons go on a 15-1 run in the second quarter. Lakewood didn’t score a bucket until senior Brian Cobb muscled his way to the hoop with less than a minute remaining in the period.

Trailing 29-11 at halftime, the Mustangs turned the ball over and were unable to make the plays that had carried them into the regional tournament.

“The guys did every single thing they could. I love these guys very much,” Schiller said. “They played as hard as they possibly could.

“We missed some plays that we normally make and we had some turnovers that we don’t usually do,” he said. “We’ve gone on a great run making plays that we are supposed to make and I thought tonight we just didn’t make the plays we needed to, to win the game.”

Cobb, who, along with Zach Ange, played his final game in a Mustang uniform finished with 13 points to lead the way for Lakewood. Sophomore Justin Otis added seven points.

Lakewood also will lose senior TJ Bridges, who was unable to play in the regional quarterfinal.

Contact Jen Blanco at [email protected].