Clearwater Rallies Late to Upset Boca Ciega, Advance

Sophomore Alex Alford sank all four of her free throw attempts in the final 49 seconds helping Clearwater upset Boca Ciega 46-43 Tuesday at Gulfport in a Class 5A region semifinal.

The win by the Tornadoes pulls Clearwater within one win of a state tournament berth and a state semifinal game. 

It was an emotional, roller coaster type of game in which Clearwater first looked to rout Boca Ciega, then should have lost the game only to come back from the dead to win late.

"We knew this would be a war but we knew we could play," Clearwater coach Tom Shaneyfelt said. "We got such a great start that Boca Ciega had to climb out of that hole so far it took a lot out of them."

Alford sank a three-pointer midway in the third for a 25-14 lead. Boca Ciega was listless on offense and couldn't buy a basket. The way Clearwater was playing defense, the game appeared all but over.

The host Pirates roared back, going to an all-guard rotation, putting together a 19-7 run to take a 33-32 lead when Tamara Taylor stole a ball, scored on a layup and was fouled with 6:35 left in the game. 

"I told them, 'Guys, they are going to make their run. They are going to come back,'" Shaneyfelt said. "It was like a heavyweight fight. We were shaken a couple of times, we were dazed a couple of times."

"We were getting tired," Alford said. "We kept pushing, we never gave up. We made some turnovers because we got shaky a little bit. We got too excited."

When the Pirates took a 43-39 lead with 1:58 left on a bucket from Jakera Allen, the game appeared over, this time in Boca Ciega's favor. On the ensuing possession Emma Loucks buried a three-point shot from the left side to give Clearwater life, pulling the Tornadoes within 43-42 with 1:20 left.

"Huge!" Shaneyfelt said of Loucks' bucket.

From there, Clearwater's defense and Alford took over, sealing the win.

On her game-clinching free throws, Alford admitted "taking my time, my stomach was tingling. I just made sure I took my time."