By: Dustin Kent - JCFloridan.com

There will be a new state champion this season thanks to the No. 11 Chipola Indians taking out the defending champions and hosts Central Florida Patriots 82-73 in Wednesday night's first round matchup in the FCSAA Region VIII tournament in Ocala.

Sam Cassell, Jr. scored 26 points and made 13-of-14 free throws for the Indians, who led for the final 35 minutes of the game and never by fewer than eight points over the final 31 minutes.

It was an impressive performance against a talented Patriots team that shot just 36 percent from the field for the game, including 2-of-14 from the three-point line.

"I thought our guys did a great job of coming out with great energy and really executing our defensive game plan from the jump," Chipola coach Patrick Blake said. "We knew we had to stop them in transition and make them play in the half-court, and then when we got them in the half-court we needed to protect the paint and keep them off the glass and we did that. I was really happy with how the guys defended."

Central Florida managed just seven points over the game's first minutes, as the Patriots struggled to get good looks or hang on to the ball against the Chipola zone defense and finished the first half with just 21 points facing an 18-point deficit.

The Indians were sparked early on by sophomore guard Demetrious Floyd, who scored 12 points in the first half, with his second three-pointer of the half putting Chipola up 24-12, and his bank shot in the lane in the waning seconds making it 39-21 at the break.

The Patriots answered with a 7-2 run to start the second half, with a three-point play by Javonte Douglas and four straight points by Richard Granberry cutting the margin to 13.

But Cassell, Jr. – as was a theme in the second half – had a big-time response for Chipola with a three-pointer to make it 44-28, followed by a steal and bucket from Carlos Morris and a three-point play by Jamaar McKay to put the Indians back up 19 with 16:52 left.

Central Florida fought back to finally cut the deficit to single digits after another three-point play by Douglas made it 53-45 with 11:36 remaining, but Cassell, Jr. came back with six straight points, including a three-pointer to make it 59-45 followed a three-point miss by Rasham Suarez that would've got the Patriots to within eight on the previous possession.

The margin dropped to single digits again after an athletic driving finish by Chris Bryant made it 71-62 with 2:41 left, but a free throw by Morris and a tough step-back jumper by Cassell, Jr. put the Indians back up 12 with 1:53 remaining.

Chipola sealed the win with six straight free throws in the final minute.

Rodell Wigginton led Central Florida with 23 points, with Douglas adding 21, and Suarez 17.

Cinmeon Bowers added a double-double for the Indians with 10 points and 14 rebounds, with Floyd finishing with 14 points, McKay 11, and Dont'e Reynolds 10.

But it was the play of the Panhandle Conference Player of the Year Cassell, Jr. that continues to make the biggest difference for the Indians.

"Sam is really coming into our own and growing as our point guard and our leader," Blake said. "He was big all game for us, especially at the free throw line. I thought Central Florida did a good job of taking us out of what we want to do offensively, but Sam is so good at breaking down the defense and getting in the paint, and he helped us get some key baskets down the stretch."

The Indians (23-5) advance to Friday's semifinal round to take on the Polk State Eagles (18-14), who came into the tournament with the worst record in the field before upsetting Southern Conference champion Eastern Florida State 69-68 on Wednesday.

But Blake said there is no reason for his team to expect an easier path to Saturday's championship game.

"At this point, you can throw the records out the window," he said. "We watched their whole game and they remind me a lot of Central Florida. They've got great size and length at every position and they do a great job of attacking the basket and sharing the ball. They play really hard, they mix up their defenses, and they're going to compete for 40 minutes. We'll definitely have our hands full."