Bradenton Christian basketball team hopes to change the course of history in final four
LAKELAND -- The Bradenton Christian boys basketball team will try to alter the course of history.
The only time the Panthers made it to the state championship game was 1997, when they faced Florida A&M High. The Baby Rattlers defeated BCS for their sixth state boys basketball title that day.
The teams will meet Tuesday in the Class 2A state semifinal at the Lakeland Center (2 p.m. tipoff), with both trying to end a personal slide. Each program has been to four Final Fours since 1997 and gone one and done. That's 0-8, if anyone is counting.
The Panthers are 1-5 in state final four games. This will be the 15th state final four for FAMU, but the Baby Rattlers might have hit their peak in that '97 game.
The tide looks to be turning in the Panthers' favor.
BCS (26-3) enters the game fifth in MaxPreps Class 2A state rankings and they are averaging 80.1 points per game while surrendering 46.6 ppg.
FAMU (17-13) is scoring at a 57.6 ppg clip, allowing 52.7 ppg and is ranked 17th in Class 2A.
BCS head coach Scott Townsend, who was an assistant under Dave Magley for the Panthers' four Final Fours, says you can throw stats out the window.
"Anybody can beat anybody when get you get to this game. Anything can happen," Townsend said. "They've played some tough teams and sometimes your record doesn't reflect how good you are. They are battle tested."
The distinct advantage BCS has in this game is height, and this would appear to be BCS's best chance of reaching the state title game since 1997.
Among the Baby Rattlers who play significant minutes, the two tallest players are 6-foot-2 senior Kaliah Wooden (9 ppg/5.9 rpg) and 6-foot-2 junior Kenyatta Colvin (6.8 ppg/4.9 rpg).
The other key guys are 6-foot senior Dizavier Harris (8.9 ppg/5.9 rpg), 5-foot-5 Brandon Bryan (7.9 ppg) and 5-foot-11 junior Khalil Butler (6.8 ppg).
FAMU is shooting 23 percent from 3-point land (82-363).
"They pick you up and cover you from baseline to baseline and try to create a lot of turnovers, and generate points off turnovers," Townsend said.
"We just have to weather their pressure. We've seen it all so we just got to take care of the ball."
Three of the Panthers' losses in their last four Final Fours were to teams that went on the win the state title and were considered to be the best teams in the state regardless of classification.
BCS also is battle tested, well balanced and deep, which has allowed the Panthers to play an up-tempo game that can often tire out opponents. The Panthers have four players averaging double-figure scoring and five averaging 9.2 points or more. They also get a big boost from 6-foot-3 wingman Justin Aracena (7.2 ppg) off the bench.
All are seniors with a wealth of experience.
Ryan Leunk, a 6-foot-3 guard, leads the Panthers in scoring and rebounding (20.1 ppg/7.4 rpg), 6-foot-8 J.T. Noellert is the rim protector (11 ppg/7 rpg), who can run the floor with most guards to spark a fast break that gets everyone involved, and point guard Vince Rehfeldt (9.2 ppg) distributes the ball well.
"You can't overlook anybody. You've just got to go out there and play," Noellert said. "We work well together and move the ball well, which allows us to get some easy buckets. We have been preparing for this moment for a long time."
BCS usually has Noellert on the top when it uses a full-court press or half-court trap because he is a lot more athletic than people think he is and moves extremely well, according to Townsend.
Jake Lister (11.5 ppg) and Alex Telfair (10.1 ppg) are two guards who can score from anywhere on the floor.
Townsend said this team reminds him of the 2004 BCS squad that went to the Final Four and featured then 6-foot-8 freshman center D.J. Magley, the program's career leader in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots.
He also went to the Final Four in his senior year.
"That '04 team was balanced as far as scoring, but I think position wise our balance is a lot better," Townsend said. "Our big guy and Justin off the bench can fill in at a lot of spots and Ryan is a stretch who can play guard or the small forward position. We can guards who can play the 1,2 or 3 and multiple guys who can handle the ball."
This story was originally published February 22, 2016 at 11:43 PM with the headline "Bradenton Christian basketball team hopes to change the course of history in final four."