Not quite two months ago, Coach Donnie Tyndall's Indian were blistered by the hot three-point shooting of Northwest Florida State inside Raider Arena. On Friday afternoon, it was the Indians that delivered a triple of their own in front of the stunned Raider fans - the third win in the season series and the biggest one...so far.
Five Chipola players finished the day in double digits led by sophomore, and All-State performer, Nae'Qwan Tomlin. Tomlin followed up his 27-point opening round tally with 18 points in the semifinal win.
Faizon Fields, another member of the FCSAA All-State Team, collected his third double-double in four games scoring 11 points and reeling in 10 rebounds.
Sophomore Lance Erving had a big night adding fifteen points, dishing out five assists, and picking the pockets of the Raiders five times. Kris Gardner and Dontae Walker each poured in 11 for the Indians. All 11 of Walker's points were scored in the second half.
After the Indians jumped out to an 8-4 lead early in the first half, the Raiders used a 9-0 run to build their biggest lead of the game with 13:14 remaining in the half.
The two Panhandle rivals exchanged buckets throughout much of the first with both teams taking turns with the lead. With just under eight minutes remaining in the half, FCSAA Player of the Year, Deshawndre Washington, made three of his game-high 26 points to even the score at 21.
After both teams failed to score on their next possession, Deyton Albury was fouled under the goal to go to the charity stripe. Albury made the second of two free throws to give Chipola a 22-21 lead with 7:08 remaining in the half. The Indians never trailed again and closed out the half, up 34-31.
The second half was as intense as you would expect in the fourth game of two two long-time Panhandle rivals. After the Raiders scored the first two points of the half, Chipola went on a 12-2 run that included a technical foul called against the Raiders' head coach, Greg Heiar.
Chipola held a double-digit lead most of the second half and pushed the lead to 14 following a dish inside from Erving to Fields for the slam with 8:40 remaining in the game.
The Raiders were able to cut the Indians' lead down to four on a three with less than a second remaining but two free throws from Shay Davis, preserved the Indians 78-72 win.
The Indians will take on Indian River State College in the State Championship game at 5 PM on Saturday in a rematch of last season's title game. The Pioneers advanced to their second consecutive state final by defeating #4 seed, Florida SouthWestern, 90-82.