BCS Hoops Season Ends In Regional Final

A warning light burned orange on the Bradenton Christian hardwood Saturday.

Orlando Christian Prep's Jordan Montgomery had just dunked with such a jolt the backboard's support poles rattled and the attached lights flipped from fluorescent to orange, as if to warn: “This one's about over.”

The fourth-quarter, three-point play slam dunk put Orlando ahead by 20 in the Class 1A-Region 2 final, and the Warriors soon had a 68-44 victory over Bradenton Christian.

BCS (19-12), however, reached its eighth final eight appearance.

Senior Daniel Magley ended his Panthers high school experience with 10 points in his final game.

Magley became the Panthers' all-time assist leader and second all-time scorer, according to coach David Magley.

Facing an Orlando Christian Prep squad (25-4) loaded with lengthy, skyrocketing athletes who controlled the boards, Bradenton Christian cut an early deficit to 22-19 late in the second quarter.

But Magley picked up his third foul.

His father, coach Magley, subbed him out of the game.

“That was a silly sub,” Magley said. “After that, we were down by 10. And against a team like that, a double-digit lead is hard to cut back.”

The Panthers didn't come any closer.

To begin the third quarter, numerous turnovers against Orlando's half-court trapping defense led to Warriors layups.

Even when Orlando turned the ball over, Warriors coach Reggie Kohn did not fret. In fact, he sometimes laughed.

But due to excessive confidence, he said.

“Some coaches rant and rave and yell and swear,” Kohn said. “They yell at kids, but I pick my battles of when I want to get on them.”

He hardly had a reason.

Bradenton Christian freshman Austin Walker, who had a team-high 17 points, hit consecutive jumpers that brought the Panthers to within 10 late in the third quarter, but Orlando's Sinclair Laskett, also a freshman, fizzled any Panthers rally with a 3-pointer.

Still, Magley was not fuming about the Panthers' performance. He pointed out that Orlando defeated Faith Christian three times. Faith Christian defeated Bradenton Christian by 48.

Despite speculation that Magley will retire with the graduation of his son, Magley insists he has no plans to leave BCS.

“I'm 51 years old, and I can keep up on the lingo of the kids,” Magley said. “At 71, I want to get it. I want to be relevant. And at BCS I get a chance to minister. I feel like I'm called to it.”