Clearwater Rallies Late to Upset Boca Ciega

When the Pirates took a 43-39 lead with 1:58 left on a bucket from Jakera Allen after a nice inside pass from Olivia Hester, it appeared the Boca Ciega High School girls basketball squad was one win away from its goal of a fourth straight state tournament berth.

But it wasn't to be. Clearwater poured on a furious rally in the final minutes to score seven unanswered points in the last 1:40 of the game to upset the Pirates 46-43 to win a Class 5A region semifinal, ending Boca Ciega's season.

"We got out to such a great start that they had to work so hard to climb out of that hill I think that took something out of them," Clearwater coach Tom Shaneyfelt said of Boca Ciega not finishing the game.

It was an emotional game in more ways than one. Some family members had to console players on the court following the final buzzer. 

Early it appeared Boca Ciega was about to get run out of their own gym.   
A three-point field goal by Clearwater's Alex Alford early in the fourth put the Tornadoes on top 25-14. At that point, Boca Ciega seemed listless. The Pirates couldn't buy a shot, at one point missing six consecutive attempts from the field.

"We knew they would come back," Shaneyfelt said. "And when they came back they came back hard. It was like a heavyweight fight. We were shaken. We looked dazed at times."

Boca Ciega coach Will White decided to go with an all-guard team, putting five guards on the floor. The game quickly turned.

The Pirates roared back, putting together a 19-6 run. A three-point basket by Destiny Brown and a steal and layup by Tamara Taylor put Boca Ciega on top 33-32 early in the fourth quarter.

"I was really proud [of the comeback]," White said. "Their effort to come back from that was heart. It wasn't strategy. That took a lot of energy."

Even Shaneyfelt felt bad for Boca Ciega, amid his joy.

"Tamara is such a great player," Shaneyfelt said. "That's the only bad part that she cannot go to the state [tournament] and represent our county. I think the world of Will too. If I can't be there, I want him to be there."

The loss marked Taylor's final game. She was a four-year starter and has accepted a basketball scholarship from the University of South Florida.

"USF is very, very lucky," White said.