The Seminole High School boys basketball team under first-year Head Coach Shawn Ready knew it was in for a ‘tall’ challenge _ literally _ when it was matched up with 3-time defending Class 7A State Champion Columbus High School from Miami in the Class 7A Semifinals at the 2025 FHSAA Boys Basketball Championships in Publix Arena at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland last Friday.
And the Explorers (27-3), which include the Boozer twins _ 6-foot-10 2-time Mr. Florida Basketball Cameron and 6-foot-5 Cayden _ who are the sons of former NBA standout Carlos Boozer, 6-foot-7 Jaxon Richardson, the son of another NBA player _ Jason Richardson _ 6-foot-8 Caleb Gaskins, who started for National Champion Montverde Academy last Year and four more players 6-foot-5 or taller, showed right off the bat why they are the top-ranked team in the nation, blocking several shots in the first five minutes and exploding for a 19-2 advantage.
The Miami quintet was able to get the ball inside the paint consistently, pounding down five dunks on the way to taking a 27-9 lead into the first quarter break.
Things didn’t get any better in the second period as Columbus scored 14 of the first 16 and 19 of the first 26 points to build a 46-16 with 2:19 left in the half on its 10th dunk. The Explorers would lead 56-24 at intermission.
The Fighting Seminoles (16-12), would play much better in the second half, much of which was played with a running clock, only allowing one more dunk while outscoring their foes, 24-22, including 9-4 in the fourth quarter, but the mountain was too big to climb, falling 78-48.
Senior Jorden Pittman led the way for the Tribe with 19 points, while junior Darvius Colyer added 11 points, three assists and two steals and senior Brayden Tarpley had seven points, three rebounds and three steals.
Columbus would got on to claim its fourth straight State Championship, romping past Windermere (26-6), 68-36, taking leads of 11-0 and 21-2 in the first quarter, which ended 27-7, and turned on the running clock in the first minute of the third quarter, holding a 49-13 advantage, which ballooned to 64-18 at the end of the third period.
Seminole has now reached a region final for the eighth time in 10 seasons and has won three regional Championships, and a trip to the State Final 4, over the past six years.
Ready was assisted by BJ Holmes, Kerry Wiggins Jr., Robert Moore and Qamar Lewis.
Making up the roster were: seniors _ Sebastian Cameron, Jorden Pittman, Rashad Rachel, Brayden Tarpley, Javon Peterson, Jorein O’Neal; juniors _ James Daniels, Darvius Colyer, Jeysen Williams, Tristen Payton; and sophomores _ Juan Tomlinson, Justice Bracero, Nygel Pardo and Markel Barber.
Here is the box score:
Columbus 78, Seminole 48
Seminole High School (16-12)
Sebastian Cameron 0-0 0-0 0, Jorden Pittman 6-14 6-7 19, Jeysen Williams 1-2 0-0 3, Markel Barber 1-3 0-0 2, Javon Peterson 0-1 0-0 0, Darvius Colyer 4-8 1-1 11, Rashad Rachel 1-4 0-0 2, Jorein O’Neal 1-3 0-2 2, Brayden Tarpley 2-5 2-2 7, Nygel Pardo 0-0 0-0 0, Juan Tomlinson 0-4 0-0 0, Justice Bracero 1-1 0-0 0, James Daniels 0-1 0-0 0. Totals _ 17-46 9-12 48.
Columbus High School (26-3)
Cello Jackson 6-7 0-0 13, Cayden Boozer 5-10 0-0 11, Jaxon Richardson 7-10 1-2 15, Caleb Gaskins 4-8 0-0 8, Cameron Boozer 9-11 7-7 26, Keeper Jackson 1-5 0-0 3, Michael Feenane 1-1 0-0 2, Zeljko Sekulovic 0-1 0-0 0, Isaiah Trelles 0-0 0-0 0, Nicholas Meireles 0-1 0-0 0, Alec Cohen-Laboy 0-0 0-0 0. Totals _ 33-54 8-9 78.
Seminole 9 15 15 9 _ 48
Columbus 27 29 18 4 _ 78
3-point field goals _ Seminole 5-17 (Colyer 2-4, Pittman 1-4, Tarpley 1-4, Williams 1-1, Tomlinson 0-4); Columbus 4-13 (K. Jackson 1-4, Cy. Boozer 1-3, C. Jackson 1-1, Cn. Boozer 1-1, Richardson 0-2, Gaskins 0-1, Seikulovic 0-1). Team fouls _ Seminole 7; Columbus 11. Fouled out _ none. Technical fouls _ none. Rebounds _ Seminole 15 (O’Neal 4, Tarpley 3); Columbus 37 (Cn. Boozer 13, Gaskins 8, Cy. Boozer 5). Turnovers _ Seminole 12; Columbus 13. Assists _ Seminole 7 (Colyer 3); Columbus 20 (Gaskins 6, Cy. Boozer 5, Cn. Boozer 4, Richardson 3). Steals _ Seminole 8 (Tarpley 3, Colyer 2); Columbus 6 (Richardson 2). Blocked shots _ Seminole 3 (Barber, Peterson, O’Neal); Columbus 3 (Cn. Boozer 2).
Here are the results for Class 7A for the Boys State Basketball Tournament:
2025 FHSAA State Championships
At RP Funding Center
Lakeland, Florida
Boys
Class 7A
Semifinals
Friday, March 7, 2025
Miami-Columbus 78, Seminole 48.
Windermere 59, Sarasota 39.
Championship
Saturday, March 8, 2025
Miami-Columbus 68, Windermere 36.
